K 


•;' 


J 


THE  BAITED  TRAP.     Page  9. 


THE 


MODEL  LANDLORD. 


MRS.  M.  A.  HOLT, 


AUTHOR  OF  "JOHN   BENTLKY's  MISTAKE,"    AND    "WORK  AND  REWARD 


NEW   YORK  : 

National  Temperance  Society  and  Publication  House. 
No.   58    READE  STREET. 

1876. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1874,  by 

J.  N.  STEARNS, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  ol  Congress,  at  Washington,  D  C. 


ORPHANS'  STEREOTYPE  FOUNDRY,CH'.JRCH  CHARITY  FOUNDATION,  BR'KLYX. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

PAGE 

THE  GILDED  MAN-TRAP 5 

• 

CHAPTER  II. 
PAUL  ALLEN*. ._...    21 

CHAPTER  HI. 
THE  GENEROUS  LANDLORD — THE  DREAM 35 

CHAPTER  IV. 
ANOTHER  MAN-TRAP 51 

CHAPTER  V. 
SORROWING  ONES— THE  NEW  MINISTER 67 

CHAPTER  VL 

MORE  DARK  DAYS — THE  TEMPTATION 82 

. 

CHAPTER  VII. 
MURDER  .% 95 


Contents. 


PAGB 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
THE  MURDERER'S  DEATH  ..  .no 


CHAPTER  IX. 
THE  LANDLORD'S  GIFT .' 127 

CHAPTER  X. 
ANOTHER  VICTIM : » 141 

CHAPTER  XL 
THE  MINISTER'S  Vow 154 

CHAPTER  XII. 
LITTLE  PHIL 167 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
A  CRUEL  LESSON 177 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
THE  MASK  THROWN  OFF.. 188 

CHAPTER  XV. 
THE  BLOW  AND  ITS  RESULTS 194 


THE    MODEL    LANDLORD 


CHAPTER    I. 

THE  GILDED  MAN-TRAP. 

OW  strangely  you  talk,  Weston  ; 
you  do  not  seem  willing  to  admit 
that  the  man  possesses  a  single 
good  quality.  Why,  sir,  I  believe  that 
Andrew  Freeland,  to-day,  is  as  good  as  half 
of  your  '  church  men '  who  profess  to  be  so 
much  better  than  anybody  else." 

"  There  are  undoubtedly  worse  men  in  our 
community  than  Andrew  Freeland,"  was  the 
low  answer. 

"  And  but  few  better  ones,"  was  the  quick 
reply.  "  I  tell  you  again,  that  there  are 


6  The  Model  Landlord. 

scores  of  men  in  our  village  that  we  could 
better  spare  from  our  midst  than  Andrew 
Freeland.  A  more  generous,  whole-souled 
man,  you  cannot  find  in  the  entire  community, 
even  if  you  look  over  your  long  roll  of  church 
members." 

"  I  do  not  quite  agree  with  you  in  regard 
to  Freeland,  Mr.  Payne.  I  think  that  we  have 
many  better  men  than  he,  and  I  know  of  but 
few  that  I  regard  a  greater  curse  to  our  beau- 
tiful village  than  this  same  man  that  you  seem 
to  regard  so  highly.  He  may  be  a  generous 
man  in  some  respects,  yet  I  think  the  word 
illy  applies  to  one  who  takes  the  husband's 
and  father's  money  in  exchange  for  strong 
drink.  I  tell  you,  Payne,  I  do  not  have  much 
confidence  in  the  moral  principles  of  a  rum- 
seller." 

"  There  it  is  again.     Weston,  you  are  grow- 


Tlie  Gilded  Man-trap.  7 

ing  crazy,  I  really  believe.  Freeland  a  rum- 
seller,  because  he  owns  a  first-class  hotel, 
and  conducts  his  business  in  a  quiet,  orderly 
manner  !  You  might  well  apply  the  word 
'  rumseller'  to  either  Butler  or  Peck,  but  it  is 
a  perfect  shame  to  call  Andrew  Freeland 
such  a  name."  • 

"  But  he  is  one,  just  as  much  as  either  But- 
ler or  Peck.  They  have  only  taken  a  step  or 
two  farther  in  the  business,  and  if  the  word 
rumseller  applies  to  them,  it  does  to  him 
also." 

"  And  so  you  would  class  Andrew  Free- 
land  with  such  men  as  keep  our  low,  dirty 
saloons,  and  place  him  upon  the  level  with 
creatures  that  are  only  half  human  ;"  and  an 
angry  flush  rested  for  a  moment  upon  the 
speaker's  face-. 

"I  doubt  if  any  man  is  half  human   that 


8  The  Model  Landlord. 

deals  out  alcohol  as  a  beverage  to  his  bro- 
ther. I  tell  you,  it  is  pretty  wicked  business, 
let  it  be  conducted  in  any  way.  There  may 
be  different  grades  in  the  profession,  but  I 
cannot  see  that  any  one  presents  a  better 
moral  aspect  than  the  others.  Freeland  be- 
gins the  work  of  making  drunkards  and  But- 
ler and  Peck  finish  the  job.  Each  of  these 
men  is  well  qualified  to  work  in  his  station, 
and  all  are  doing  the  devil's  business  in  a  way 
peculiarly  their  own.  Their  master  is  un- 
doubtedly satisfied  with  the  work  of  each,  for 
they  are  true  to  his  interests." 

"  And  so  you  will  not  admit  that  Freeland 
is  any  better  than  these  despicable  men  that 
have  been  named.  While  he  is  engaged  in 
nothing  but  strictly  lawful  business,  and 
dealing  fairly  and  honestly  with  all,  they 
allow  the  worst  forms  of  vice  to  be  enacted 


The  Gilded  Man-trap.  q 

in  their  underground  dens.  While  he  uses 
judgment  and  discretion  in  selling  liquor, 
they  deal  it  out  readily  to  all,  and  even  seek 
to  lure  our  young  boys  into  the  baited  traps."" 

"If  this  is  true  of  them,"  said  Mr.  Weston, 
interrupting  the  speaker,  "they  infringe  up- 
on the  rights  of  Freeland.  It  is  his  business 
to  entrap  the  young  and  unsuspecting." 

"  I  do  not  believe  that  Andrew  Freeland 
ever  by  word  or  look  sought  to  lead  a  boy 
or  young  man  into  the  habit  of  drinking 
liquor  ;"  and  Mr.  Payne  spoke  in  a  very  de- 
cided way. 

"  He  has  by  deed,  however,  for  he  has  fitted 
up  a  very  elegant  saloon,  and  adorned  it  in  a 
way  that  will  attract  innocent  eyes.  He 
does  not  need  to  speak  or  even  look,  to  get 
his  victims  in.  They  will  go  themselves, 
while  you  could  not  urge  them  to  even  step 


io  The  Model  Landlord. 

into  such  places  as  are  kept  by  Butler  and 
Peck.  They  cannot  detect  the  enemy  in 
the  fine  surroundings  of  Mr.  Freeland,  while 
they  can  readily  discover  him,  peering  from 
every  corner  of  the  blackened  walls  where  the 
finishing  work  is  done.  I  do  not  think  that 
Butler  and  Peck  can  accomplish  much,  when 
they  seek  to  lead  the  young  and  innocent 
into  their  dens.  I  really  believe  that  Free- 
land  is  the  most  dangerous  man  that  we 
have  in  town.  His  fine  hotel,  that  he  con- 
ducts so  orderly,  is  nothing  -But  a  man-trap 
to  catch  human,  souls,  while  these  other  dens 
are  the  places  where  their  victims  are  en- 
tirely crushed,  and  tortured  to  death. 
When  a  human  being  once  gets  upon  the 
"enchanted  ground,"  it  does  not  require 
much  effort  to  keep  him  there  until  utterly 
ruined.  The  greatest  trouble  is,  to  persuade 


The  Gilded  Man-trap.  it 

him  to  cross  the  border  lines,  and  this  work 
Andrew  Freeland  is  doing  finely."  .. 

"  I  am  glad  that  I  do  not  see  through  your 
eyes,  Henry  Weston,  or  possess  such  fanati- 
cal notions.  I  regard  Andrew  Freeland  as  a 
true  manly  fellow,  one  that  would  not  inten- 
tionally harm  a  single  human  being.  Next 
week  I  am  intending  to  remove  to  this  same 
'man-trap,'  as  you  term  it,  which  will, be  my 
home  for  awhile  at  least." 

"  Will  Philip  go  also  ?"  was  the  inquiry. 

"To  be  sure,  Mr.  Weston.  Do  you  sup- 
pose that  I  shall  allow  my  son  to  be  home- 
less  while  I  have  plenty  of  money,  and  good 
'quarters'  for  myself?  No,  I  shall  have  the 
management  of  my  boy  myself,  and  not 
leave  him  to  the  tender  mercy  of  friends  and 
"relatives." 

"  I  should  much  rather  he  would  live  with 


12  Hi 'c  Model  Landlord. 

entire  strangers,  than  to  spend  his  early 
years  in  the  fine  gilded  hotel  of  Andrew 
Freeland,  if  he  were  my  son.  I  tell  you,  Payne, 
little  Phil  is  too  young  and  innocent  to  learn 
the  lessons  that  he  will  receive  there  in  the 
next  two  years  ;"  and  saying  this  Mr.  Weston 
rose  to  go. 

"  I  do  not  think  that  my  boy  will  be  in- 
jured by  boarding  and  lodging  in  the  hotel 
of  Andrew  Freeland,  for  two  years  or  even 
five.  Any  way,  I  shall  borrow  no  trouble 
upon  his  account  just  now.  Andrew  Free- 
land  is  not  so  bad  a  man,  after  all  that  you 
have  said  about  him.  I  will  not  stay  to  hear 
hifn  abused  any  longer,"  and  Payne  also  arose 
to  go. 

"  You  will  yet  understand  the  man  better, 
but  it  may  be  too  late,"  Weston  said,  as  he 
walked  away  toward  the  pleasant  farm-house 


The  Gilded  Man-trap.  13 

which  he  called  his  own  just  out  of  the  busy 
town. 

These  two  men  had  been  sitting  upon  the 
stone  steps  of  one  of  the  large  mercantile 

establishments  of  A ,  within  sight  of  the 

showy  hotel  of  Mr.  Freeland.  The  landlord 
had  been  making  extensive  repairs  upon  the 
building  which  he  occupied,  and  this  was  the 
way  that  Mr.  Weston  and  Payne  became 
engaged  in  the  conversation  just  recorded. 
Mr.  Weston  was  an  earnest  advocate  of 
temperance,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  speak 
out  his  honest  convictions  in  regard  to  it, 
wherever  he  chanced  to  be.  .  All  kinds  of 
abusive  names  had  been  applied  to  him,  but 
the  "one  idea  man,"  "crazy  reformer"  and  • 

"  temperance  fanatic  "  kept  straight  along  in    • 

• 
the  path  which  he  had  chosen,  turning  neither 

to  the  right  nor  left.     It  was  true,  that   his 


14.  The  Model  Landlord. 

ideas  in  regard  to  temperance  were  some- 
what in  advance  of  slow  moving  public 
opinion,  yet  as  he  was  a  man  of  wealth  and 
influence  in  the  community,  people  were  not 
wholly  indifferent  to  the  principles  which  he 
advocated.  And  George  Payne  was  also  a 
man  of  wealth  and  position,  living  an  easy, 
aimless  life,  drifting  about  just  where  the 
winds  and  tide  of  worldliness  carried  him. 
Yet  he  was  regarded  by  those  who  knew 
him  as  a  man  of  moral  worth  and  principle  ; 
and  if  these  elements  of  human  greatness 
can  dwell  in  a  soul  drifting  aimlessly  upon 
the  ocean  of  existence,  George  Payne  really 
possessed  them.  Even  Henry  Weston,  who 
understood  the  man  perfectly,  said,  "  He  is  a 
good  fellow,  but  sadly  blinded  by  the  false 
teachings  of  the  world." 

Only  a   few   months   before,   good   Mrs. 


7 he   (jalded  Man-trap.  i$ 

Payne  had  died,  and  left  her  husband  and 
child  alone  in  the  world.  With  her  death, 
the  light  and  happiness  went  out  in  the  old 
home,  and  George  Payne  became  sad  and 
restless.  He  could  not  remain  in  the  place 
where  so  many  happy  hours  had  been  passed, 
and  so  he  went  away  for  a  few  weeks,  leav- 
ing little  Phil  in  the  care  of  his  sister,  a  kind 
Christian  lady  who  would  gladly  have  kept 
the  bright  active  boy  until  he  should  become 
a  man.  But  Mr.  Payne  returned  suddenly, 
saying  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  re- 
main away  from  his  only  idol,  little  Phil,  and 
so  he  took  the  boy  and  went  back  into  the 
old  home.  Yet  the  old  spirit  of  unrest  and 
disquietude  followed  him,  and  soon  he  de- 
cided to  leave  the  place  haunted  by  so  many 
dear  remembrances,  and  take  up  his  abode 
in  the  large  stylish  hotel,  kept  by  Mr.  Free- 


16  The  Model  Landlord. 

land.  Perhaps  he  came  to  such  a  conclusion, 
knowing  if  he  remained  there,  amidst  the 
active  bustle  and  gayety  of  hotel  life,  he 
would  in  some  measure  forget  the  past,  and 
become  his  former  self  again. 

And  so,  true  to  his  word,  he  took  little 
Phil  and  removed  to  the  hotel  that  he  de- 
clared was  such  a  well-ordered,  first-class 
establishment. 

One  of  the  best  apartments  which  the 
house  afforded  was  neatly  fitted  up  for  him, 
and  arranged  in  a  way  to  charm  the  eyes  of 
the  most  fastidious.  A  rich  velvety  carpet 
covered  the  floor,  and  a  nice  costly  sofa  stood 
in  one  corner  as  if  to  tempt  the  weary  rest- 
less man  to  seek  for  quiet  and  repose  upon 
the  soft  resting  place.  Everything  else  for 
ease  and  comfort  was  found  in  the  room,  and 
Mr.  Payne  thought,  while  looking  around 


• 


The  Gilded  Man- trap.  ij 

over  the  various  articles  of  utility  and  adorn- 
ment, that  he  could  be  happy  there.  While 
looking  at  the  nicely  bound  books  which  lay 
upon  the  table,  he  discovered  a  beautiful 
Bible  and  several  religious  volumes  ;  two  or 
three  temperance  papers  were  also  seen  folded 
nicely  upon  the  marble  centre  table. 

"  I  wonderwhat  Henry  Weston  would  say 
to  that,"  he  said  aloud,  as  he  was  looking 
over  the  reading  matter  upon  the  centre- 
table.  "  I  do  not  believe  that  one  half  the 
Christian  men  of  the  town  possess  such  a 
good  collection  of  religious  books,  and  I  do 
not  think  that  there  are  half  a  dozen  sub- 
scribers to  a  temperance  paper.  Mr.  Free- 
land  is  a  better  temperance  man  now  than 
half  who  are  so  bitterly  opposed  to  him  ;" 
and  as  he  settled  down  upon  this  conclusion, 
a  pleasant  smile  came  over  his  face. 


i8  The  Model  Landlord. 

Soon  little  Phil  came  bounding  into  the 
room,  his  face  all  aglow  with  boyish  enthu- 
siasm, and  exclaimed, 

"  O  papa  !  do  see  what  a  beautiful  picture 
book  Mrs.  Freeland  just  gave  me." 

Mr.  Payne  took  the  little  boy's  gift,  expect- 
ing to  find  "  Jack  the  Giant  Killer,"  "  Cinde- 
rella," or  something  else  equally  as  ridiculous, 
but  to  his  surprise  he  read  upon  the  title 
page,  4<  Child  Life  of  Christ." 

"A  very  pretty  present,  my  boy,"  he  said, 
the  smile  upon  his  face  deepening,  and  fairly 
radiating  his  countenance  with  pleasure. 
"You  must  keep  it  nicely,  Phil,,  and  you 
must  be  very  good  and  obedient  to  Mrs. 
Freeland." 

"  Davie  has  got  a  book  exactly  like  it," 
Philip  said  again,  to  his  father. 

"  Then  see  which  will  keep  the  book   the 


T/ie  Gilded  Man-trap.  19 

longest  time,  he  replied,  as  he  started  down 
the  long  stairs  for  the  "  bar-room  "  to  speak 
to  the  landlord. 

He  glanced  around  the  room  half  suspi- 
ciously, for  just  then  he  remembered  some- 
thing that  Henry  Weston  had  said  about  the 
place,  but  he  saw  nothing  to  make  him  change 
his  ideas  in  regard  to  the  gentlemanly  pro- 
prietor. The  walls  and  floor  were  neat  and 
clean,  and  not  a  particle  of  dust  or  dirt  could 
he  discover  upon  the  various  articles  which 
the  room  contained.  Instead  of  the  sporting 
pictures  that  are  usually  seen«n  a  bar-room, 
there  appeared  nearly  a  dozen  of  fine  paint- 
ings of  landscape.  He  looked  around,  half 
expecting  to  find  another  Bible,  but  instead 
he  discovered  a  number  of  temperance  papers. 

The  landlord  was  a  cheerful,  talkative  man, 
in  middle  life,  and  one  would  not  term  mm  a 


2O  The  Model  Landlord. 

villain  at  the  first  sight.  But  yet  there  was 
an  expression  about  his  eyes  that  was  not 
altogether  pleasant,  and  a  close  reader  of 
human  nature  might  have  said  that  he  was 
not  just  what  he  appeared  to  be.  But  Mr. 
Payne  saw  nothing  of  this,  and  went  back  to 
his  room  perfectly  satisfied  with  his  new 
home,  forgetting  the  warning  words  that 
Henry  Weston  had  spoken. 


CHAPTER    II. 

PAUL  ALLEN. 

ALLEN  was 

in  the  prime  of  life,  when  he  should 
have  been  wearing  the  glorious  seal 
of  manhood  upon  his  brow  ;  yet  he  was  a 
poor,  weak,  restless  human  being,  standing 
upon  the  banks  of  the  river,  at  times  clinging 
wildly  to  life,  and  again  longing  to  leave  the 
world.  Two  years  before  he  had  been  led 
across  the  border  lines  of  the  "  enchanted 
ground,"  and  this  was  the  result — he  was 
dying. 

To  be  sure  it  was  a  short  time  in  which 
the  ruin  had  been  wrought,  but  Paul  was  not 
one  of  the  kind  that  could  be  held  in  check 


22  The  Model  Landlord. 

or  kept  back  from  the  fatal  goal  by  human 
hands.  Yet  he  was  not  indifferent  to  the 
loving  appeals  made  to  him  by  those  who 
would  have  saved  him.  He  loved  his  wife 
and  children  well,  yet  there  were  charms 
upon  the  enchanted  ground  that  he  could  not 
resist,  and  so  he  went  to  ruin.  Before  he 
became  "  entangled  in  the  yoke  of  bondage," 
he  had  been  a  true  husband  and  father,  and 
for  many  a  year  a  sweet,  deep  peace  had 
filled  the  old  home.  But  after  he  fell, 
strange  dark  shadows  came  into  the  earthly 
Eden,  and  the  flowers  of  hope  and  love 
faded.  The  sunshine  went  out  of  the  once 
quiet  home,  and  darkness  entered.  It  was 
the  old,  old  story  of  midnight  watchings — of 
scalding  tears  and  earnest  prayers.  Yet 
there  was  one  uncommon  feature  about  it — 
Paul  Allen  was  never  unkind  or  cruel  to  his 


Paul  Allen.  23 

• 
wife  and    children,    even  when   intoxicated. 

He  was  like  a  demon  to  others,  warlike  and 
revengeful,  but  quiet  and  gentle  when  in 
the  home  circle.  People  wondered  at  this, 
but  failed  to  understand  the  mystery. 

Disease  at  last  fastened  itself  upon  the 
once  strong  man,  and  after  awhile  it  brought 
him  down  into  the  dark  death  valley.  For 
several  weeks  he  had  been  confined  to  his 
bed,  growing  more  feeble  and  emaciated 
every  day.  For  awhile  the  demon  of  appe- 
tite tortured  him  with  its  terrible  power,  but 
as  he  grew  weaker  and  unable  to  move,  it 
left  him  in  some  measure,  and  he  became 
more  like  his  former  self.  Then  he  saw  him- 
self as  he  really  was,  and  a  deep  remorse 
came  over  him,  with  its  accusing  power. 
Poor  fellow,  he  could  only  moan  and  weep 
over  the  wasted  years,  and  his  sad  downfall. 


24  The  Model  Landlord. 

The  death-angel  came  for  him  one  beauti- 
ful summer  day,  while  his  wife  and  two  sons 
stood  by  his  bedside.  All  were  weeping,  for 
it  was  impossible  to  stand  by  the  wretched 
sufferer  and  not  weep  at  the  touching  scene, 
yet  they  had  never  ceased  to  love  him,  in 
spite  of  his  degradation,  and  the  shame  and 
misery  which  he  had  brought  upon  them.  It 
was  not  an  easy  task  to  forget  the  beautiful 
life  they  once  lived,  ere  he  fell. 

"  I  have  got  to  the  '  crossing-place,'  Mary," 
the  dying  man  said,  as  he  opened  his  eyes  to 
catch  another  look  at  the  faces  of  his  loved 
ones.  "  It  is  better  that  I  should  go,  I 
know,"  he  continued,  "but  when  I  look  back 
upon  the  bright  years  of  our  early  married 
life,  I  almost  wish  that  I  could  live  them 
over  again."  But  here  a  frightened  look 
came  over  Paul's  face,  as  he  went  on. — "No, 


Paul  Allen.  25 

no  !  I  would  not  live  my  life  over  again,  for 
the  suffering  of  the  last  two  years  I  would 
not  bear  the  second  time  for  an  eternity  of 
happiness.  Hell  itself,  I  know,  cannot  be 
any  worse  in  the  future  life  than  the  earthly 
one  has  been  through  which  I  have  passed. 
Poor  Mary,  I  did  not  mean  to  treat  you  thus, 
when  I  stood  so  proudly  by  your  side  that 
blessed  June  morning  and  promised  to  love 
and  protect  you  through  life.  But  I  was 
tempted,  Mary,  and  fell,  because  I  did  not 
know  the  strength  of  my  enemy — I  did  not 
know  how  weak  I  was,  until  I  was  bound  by 
my  foe.  Don't  blame  me  too  much,  Mary  ; 
forgive  me,  as  far  as  possible,  for  I  sometimes 
think  that  God  has  forgiven  me.  If  he  has, 
and  if  we  should  meet  somewhere  in  the 
future  life,  you  will  understand  it  better  then. 
Kiss  me  once  more,  Mary, — just  as  you  used 


26  The  Model  Landlord. 

to  do  before  the  dark  days  came.  I  think 
that  we  shall  meet  again,  for  God  is  very 
merciful  to  such  as  I  am." 

Here  Paul  stopped  for  a  moment,  and  his 
face  grew  strangely  white,  but  he  spoke 
again  in  a  deep,  husky  voice. 

"  Howard,  don't  ever  go  to  Freeland's,  for 
there  was  where  I  yielded  to  the  tempter. 
I  should  never  have  entered  the  doors  of  the 
other  places  of  ruin,  but  it  is  different  there, 
you  know.  Howard,  promise  me  that  you 
will  never  go  there,  and  you  too,  Harry." 

"  I  will  promise,  father,"  said  Howard,  in  a 
firm  voice. 

Paul  heard  these  words,  and  a  grateful  look 
came  over  his  face  ;  and  then,  as  he  glanced 
at  Harry,  the  same  deathly  expression  ap- 
peared upon  his  countenance,  and  in  a  mo- 
ment he  was  dead  ! 


Paul  Allen.  27 

f 

"  Paul !  Paul  !"  the  poor  wife  moaned, 
kissing  again  and  again  the  white  face.  But 
the  dull  dead  ears  heard  not  the  piteous  call, 
for  they  were  forever  closed  to  all  earthly 
sounds  !  Poor  weak,  frail  Paul  Allen  was  at 
rest  at  last,  and  beyond  the  reach  of  human 
bloodhounds. 

He  was  gently  borne  away  to  the  green 
graveyard,  to  sleep  in  peace,  while  the  long 
years  should  go  by  upon  their  silent  wings. 

"  He  drank  himself  to  death,"  was  the 
popular  verdict  of  the  village,  and  all  said 
that  the  wife,  children,  and  world  at  large, 
would  be  better  off  now  that  he  was  dead. 
Poor  Paul  was  also  better  off. 

No  one  thought,  unless  it  was  Mr.  Weston, 
that  Andrew  Freeland  had  anything  to  do 
with  the  death  of  Paul  Allen.  Alas,  how 
blind  human  beings  are  ! 


28  The  Model  Landlord. 

Howard  Allen  was  an  intelligent,  active 
boy  about  twelve  years  of  age.  Harry  was 
two  years  younger,  yet  he  was  nearly  as  large 
and  strong  as  his  brother.  He  was  a  bright, 
promising  boy,  possessing  his  father's  yield- 
ing, impulsive  nature,  and  the  same  loving, 
trusting  spirit. 

"  You  must  watch  very  closely  over  Harry, 
Mrs.  Allen,  or  he  will  stumble  into  some  of 
these  hidden  pitfalls  all  along  the  pathway 
of  the  young  ;"  said  Mr.  Weston,  one  day,  to 
the  mother. 

"  I  think  our  boys  are  safe  in  regard  to  in- 
temperance, at  least,"  replied  Mrs.  Allen  ; 
"  the  sad  lesson  that  they  have  received, 
I  trust,  will  make  them  forever  shun  the  path 
of  the  drunkard." 

"They  would  not  intentionally  seek  to 
walk  in  it,  but  there  are  many  ways  that  lead 


Paul  Allen.  2g 

to  it,  of  which  the  young  are  not  aware.  Many 
a  deep  pitfall  is  covered  over  with  flowers, 
and  the  victim  is  entrapped  before  he  knows 
it.  The  devil  is  very  sly  and  artful  in  his 
work  of  leading  souls  to  ruin.  Paul  could 
not  have  been  led  astray  in  any  ordinary  way, 
for  he  would  have  fled  in  disgust  from  temp- 
tation as  it  usually  presents  itself.  But 
there  are  gilded  man-traps  erected  along  the 
ways  that  lead  to  ruin,  and  they  often  de- 
ceive wiser  men  than  Paul  Allen." 

A  troubled,  anxious  look  came  over  the 
mother's  face,  and  so  Mr.  Weston  did  not  say 
anything  more. 

More  trouble  soon  came  to  the  remain- 
ing members  of  the  Allen  family.  Howard 
was  suddenly  stricken  down  with  fever,  and 
was  soon  raving  in  delirium.  A  physician 
was  called,  but  he  could  not  check  the  terrible 


jo  The  Model  Landlord. 

disease  or  hold  it  in  subjection  for  an  hour. 
The  poor  boy  suffered  severely  and  was 
brought  down  in  the  misty  valley  where  the 
King  of  Terrors  reigned  ;  yet  the  pale  sufferer' 
in  some  way  escaped  the  grasp  of  the  relent- 
less death-angel.  Like  a  traveller  who  has 
been  lost  for  many  a  day  in  the  dark  forest, 
and  at  last  comes  forth  weary  and  benighted 
still,  so  did  the  pale  weak  boy  come  out  of 
the  valley  of  suffering.  For  many  a  day  he 
appeared  more  like  an  imbecile  than  the 
bright  manly  boy  that  he  once  was.  He  was 
very  quiet  generally,  and  hardly  seemed  to 
comprehend  his  sad  condition. 

At  last,  however,  the  sunshine  of  his  old 
life  began  to  beam  again  over  his  soul,  and 
in  a  few  days  perfect  reason  asserted  its  power 
in  the  hitherto  darkened  chamber  of  thought. 

But  just  at  that  time  Harry  was  stricken 


Paul  Mien.  31 

also  with  the  same  dreaded  disease,  and  the 
darkness  returned  a  hundred-fold  into  the 
old  homestead,  for  then  the  widow's  money 
had  became  exhausted,  and  all  means  of  ob- 
taining more  cut  off.  The  strong  arms  of 
her  manly  boys  had  accomplished  much 
towards  procuring  the  daily  food,  but  as  they 
were  useless  now,  want  with  grim  features 
stared  her  in  the  face. 

"What  shall  we  do?"  she  said  to  herself 
again  and  again,  as  she  understood  her  real 
position.  '  But  she  was  very  careful  not  to 
say  these  words  aloud,  for  it  seemed  too 
much  like  an  appeal  for  aid  should  she  re- 
peat them  to  others. 

Paul  Allen  had  never  possessed  any  prop- 
erty, save  the  little  house  and  garden  that  his 
family  now  occupied.  He  had  supported  his 
wife  and  children  by  daily  toil,  and  even  in 


$2  The  Model  Landlord. 

his  degradation,  whenever  he  chanced  to 
possess  a  few  dollars,  he  always  gave  a 
liberal  share  for  their  comfort.  Often  when 
a  week's  work  was  ended,  he  would  go 
quickly  home  to  deposit  a  portion  of  his 
wages  in  his  wife's  hands,  fearing,  if  he  should 
visit  the  saloon  first,  that  the  money  would 
be  spent  for  liquor.  Truly  there  was  a  vast 
amount  of  natural  goodness  in  the  heart  of 
Paul  Allen. 

"  How  I  wish  that  I  was  able  to  work," 
said  Howard,  the  day  after  Harry  was  taken 
with  the  disease.  "  But  it  does  no  good  to 
wish,"  he  continued,  as  a  half  smile  came- 
upon  his  pale  lips.  "I  shall  not  be  strong 
enough  for  several  days  yet." 

"  For  several  weeks,  you  should  have  said, 
my  son,"  answered  Mrs.  Allen,  while  a  shadow 
came  over  her  face. 


Paul  Allen.  33 

"What  are  we  to  do,  mother — the  money 
is  all  gone,  is  it  not  ?"  asked  the  boy. 

The  mother  started  at  the  question,  for  she 
did  not  think  that  any  one  else  had  guessed 
her  sad  secret.  For  a  moment  she  thought 
of  trying  to  evade  the  question,  but  finally 
decided  not  to  deceive  the  boy. 

"  Yes,  Howard,  it  is  all  gone,"  she  replied. 

"Then  my  cow  must  be  sold,"  the  son 
said,  in  a  decided  tone. 

A  painful  feeling  came  over  Mrs.  Allen,  at 
such  a  suggestion,  and  yet  she  knew  it  was 
their  last  resort  to  obtain  money,  to  be  used 
to  make  her  sick  boy  comfortable.  She  had 
thought  of  it  before,  but  dared  not  mention  it 
to  Howard,  for  the  cow  was  his  property. 
He  had  worked  for  Mr.  Weston,  until  he  had 
earned  money  enough  to  pay  for  her,  and 
then  he  said,  as  he  proudly  drove  her  home, 


34  Ttu  Model  Landlord. 

"  I  shall    keep   old    'Spot'   as   long   as    she 


In  a  day  or  two  a  purchaser  came  that  way, 
aud  Howard's  cow  was  quietly  sold  to  him 
for  thirty  dollars. 

"  I  will  work  and  buy  another,"  the  brave 
boy  said,  as  he  saw  old  "  Spot "  go  away  with 
the  herd  that  the  drover  had  purchased. 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  GENEROUS  LANDLORD — THE  DREAM. 

AIT  a  moment,  Mr.  Payne  ;  I  wish 
to  see  you  upon  business,"  said 
Henry  Weston  one  morning,  while 
passing  along  the  street  nearly  opposite  Mr. 
Freeland's  hotel. 

"  O  yes,"  cheerfully,  replied  Mr.  Payne, 
who  had  just  come  out  of  the  hotel,  "  I  can 
spare  an  hour  as  well  as  not,  either  for  busi- 
ness or  pleasure." 

"  But  I  cannot  spend  but  a  few  moments 
with  you,  for  I  must  transact  this  same  busi- 
ness with  at  least  a  dozen  men  within  the 
time  you  mention.  The  fact  is,  Payne,  they 


j6  The  Model  Landlord. 

are  in  deep  trouble  up  at  Mrs.  Allen's,  and 
we  must  help  them  out  of  it  as  far  as  possible. 
Harry  Allen  is  dangerously  sick,  and  How- 
ard is  yet  unable  to  leave  the  room,  while 
there  is  not  a  dollar  of  money  in  the  house. 
I  found  this  out  by  mere  accident,  and  started 
out  at  once  for  help.  I  have  presented  this 
paper  to  a  number,  and  have  obtained  about 
fifteen  dollars.  I  would  like  to  get  about 
fifty,  if  it  is  possible."  And  here  Mr.  Weston 
handed  the  paper  to  Payne. 

"  I  do  not  think  jthe  men  whose  names  ap- 
pear upon  this  p%)er  have  given  very  libe- 
rally to  the  '  widow  and  fatherless/"  said  Mr 
Payne.  "Why,  here  is  Deacon  Turner's  name, 
with  only  a  dollar  written  opposite.  lie 
should  have  given  five  at  least,  for  he  is  abun- 
dantly able  to  do  so.  He  professes  to  be 
very  good,  and  is  a  temperance  man  in  the 


The  Generous  Landlord.  37 

, 
bargain.     Surely  he  should  do  more  than  this 

for  the  widow  of  a  man  who  '  drank  himself 
to  death.'  Why  do  you  not  present'  this 
paper  to  Ereeland,  and  get  something  worth 
taking  ?  I  believe  that  he  would  give  more 
than  any  man  has  done  thus  far,  unless  it  is 
yourself:"  and  saying  this  Mr.  Payne  wrote 
his  own  name  upon  the  paper,  and  then  gave 
Mr.  Weston  a  five  dollar  bill,  the  sum  that 
he  had  written  down  opposite  to  his  signa- 
ture. 

"  See  here,  Weston,  juswlet  me  have  this 
paper  for  five  minutes,  and  Twill  get  as  much 
more  money  as  you  have  obtained.  There 
are  a  number  of  gentlemen  in  Freeland's  bar- 
room, some  of  the  free-hearted  kind,"  and 
saying  this  Mr.  Payne  hurried  back  toward 
the  hotel. 

He  was  gone  about  fifteen  minutes,  and 


j>#  The  Model  Landlord. 

then  he  came  out  with  the  paper,  and  as  he 
returned  it  to  Mr.  Weston,  he  said  : 

"  What  did  I  tell  you,  sir  ?"  and  then  he 
handed  twenty-five  dollars  to  his  friend. 
"  Three  gentlemen  gave  five  dollars  each, 
.and  Freeland  ten,  so  you  see  that  he  is  not  so 
bad,  after  all  ;"  and  a  triumphant  look  came 
over  the  speaker's  face. 

"  He  has  only  returned  a  portion  of  Paul 
Allen's  money  to  his  family.  If  he  should 
return  it  all  there  would  be.  a  hundred  dollars 
or  more  ;  but  I  will  take  this  to  the  widow 
and  children,"  and  the  bills  were  all  carefully 
placed  in  the  large  pocket-book. 

"There  it  is,  again,"  said  Payne,  half 
angrily.  "  Your  fanatical  temperance  notions 
make  you  forget  to  even  appear  grateful  for 
favors.  You  abuse  Freeland,  I  suppose,  be- 
cause he  has  given  the  largest  sum  of  any 


The  Generous  Landlord.  39 

that  have  written  their  names  upon  that 
paper." 

"  I  did  not  mean  to  abuse  the  man  ;  I  am 
grateful  for  the  rrlbney,  and  if  I  said  that  he 
had  returned  it,  I  only  spoke  just  as  I  thought. 
I  am  very  grateful  to  you,  also,  Mr.  Payne, 
and  to  the  other  gentlemen  who  have  given 
so  freely.  But  I  must  go,  directly,"  and  say- 
ing this  Mr.  Weston  walked  away. 

"  The  strangest  man  that  I  ever  saw,  and 
yet  I  believe  that  he  is  sincere  in  the  position 
he  takes,"  said  George  Payne  to  himself,  as 
he  walked  slowly  down  the  street. 

Poor  Harry  Allen  lay  moaning  and  tossing 
upon  the  bed  in  the  little  square  room,  just 
out  of  the  kitchen.  He,  too,  was  delirious, 
and  talked  in  a  strange  unusual  way,  about 
everything  around  him.  Sometimes  he  would 
imagine  that  he  was  in  Mr.  Weston's  hay 


40  The  Model  Landlord,. 

field  busy  at  work,  spreading  the  new-mown 
hay  or  rolling  it  up  in  heaps,  as  he  and 
Howard  had  sometimes  done.  Then  again 
he  would  talk  about  the  tatt  beech  tree,s,  just 
back  of  the  meadow,  and  of  the  shining  trout 
brook  underneath.  At  times  he  would  laugh 
in  the  old,  happy  way,  and  sing  and  shout  to 
Howard,  as  he  had  often  done  in  the  grand 
beech  woods.  Poor  boy,  it  was  well  that  he 
could,  in  a  measure,  be  unconscious  of  his 
suffering. 

"  Old  Spot  has  come  back,  mother,"  said 
Howard,  as  he  chanced  to  glance  through 
the  window,  at  the  close  of  the  day  upon 
which  the  cow  had  been  taken  away  by  the 
drover. 

"  She  undoubtedly  ran  away  from  the  rest 
of  the  drove,"  replied  Mrs.  Allen.  "  Poor, 
old  Spot,  how  I  wish  that  we  could  keep 


The  Generous  Landlord.         41 

her,  but  her  owner  will  soon  come  after  her 
again." 

Just  then  there  was  a  low  knock  heard  at 
the  door,  and  Mr.  Weston  was  admitted. 

"  I  have  purchased  the  cow  back  again  for 
you,  Howard,"  he  said,  as  he  seated  himself 
for  a  moment  in  the  chair  offered  him. 

"  The  mother  and  Howard  both  looked 
very  much  surprised,  and  then  Mrs.  Allen 
managed  to  say,  "I  do  not  quite  understand 
you,  Mr.  Weston,  We  sold  the  cow  this 
morning — we  were  obliged  to  do  this,"  she 
explained,  and  a  painful  flush  rested  upon 
her  face. 

"  Yes,  I  understand  it  all  now,  Mrs.  Allen, 
and  I  should  have  done  it  before  if  I  had 
only  thought.  I  saw  the  cow  in  the  drove 
to-day,  and  then  I  comprehended  it  all.  I 
asked  the  owner  to  sell  her  to  me,  and  finally 


42  The  Model  Landlord. 

persuaded  him  to  do  so.  You  can  have  her 
again,  and  Howard  can  work  for  me  when  he 
is  well  enough.  I  have  also  some  money 
here  for  you  which  a  few  gentlemen  in  the 
village  gave.  I  am  afraid  that  you  have 
already  suffered  for  the  want  of  it.  I  should 
have  been  more  thoughtful  ;"  and  placing  the 
money  upon  the  table,  Mr.  Weston  went 
out. 

Mrs.  Allen  and  Howard  were  both  too 
much  surprised  to  say  a  word  to  Mr.  Weston, 
for  not  until  he  had  gone,  did  they  fully  un- 
derstand the  transaction.  But  it  appeared  a 
little  plainer  in  a  few  moments,  and  then 
Howard  quietly  said,  with  a  smile  breaking 
over  his  face,  "  Mr.  Weston  is  very  good." 

But  the  mother  did  not  reply,  and  there 
was  a  strange,  confused  look  resting  upon  her 
face.  Howard  noticed  it,  and  asked  : 


The  Generoits  Landlord.          43 

"Are  you  not  glad  that  we  are  so  well 
provided  for  ?" 

"  For  my  children's  sake  I  am  very  grateful 
for  this.  And  yet,  I  am  very  sorry  to  be 
obliged  to  receive  money  in  such  a  way. 
But  yet,  in  spite  of  this  unpleasant  fact,  I 
feel  very  grateful  to.  good  Mr.  Weston,"  and 
then  Mrs.  Allen  took  up  the  bills  of  money. 
"  Fifty  dollars,"  she  said,  aloud,  after  count- 
ing the  money. 

"  And  thirty  more  that  we  received  for  old 
Spot,  and  herself  in  the  bargain,"  said 
Howard,  in  his  old  happy  voice. 

"  I  think  that  we  can  persuade  Mr.  Weston 
to  take  the  thirty  dollars.  We  will  try,  any 
way,  for  the  fifty  dollars  remaining  will  be 
all  that  I  trust  we  shall  require,  until  Harry 
gets  well  agjain.  But  he  is  yet  very  sick, 
and  may  not  get  well  as  soon  as  we  hope," 


^  The  Model  Landlord. 

and  the  shadow  returned  to  Mrs.  Allen's  face. 
-  "  Who  gave  the  money  to  us,  mother  ?" 
asked  Howard,  with  a  boy's  curiosity. 

"  Here  is  the  paper  that  contains  the  names 
of  those  who  gave  it,"  replied  Mrs.  Allen, 
looking  at  the  same. 

Another  confused  look*  came  over  her  face 
as  she  glanced  at  the  names  upon  the  paper, 
and  she  said,  in  a  low  voice, 

"Strange  that  Andrew  Freeland  .should 
have  given  the  largest  sum  of  any  whose 
names  are  here." 

"  Did  Andrew  Freeland  give  any  of  that 
money,  mother?"  inquired  Howard,  in  an  ear- 

• 

nest  tone. 

"  Yes,  ten  dollars,"  answered  Mrs.  Allen. 

"  I  would  not  keep  it,  mother  ;  I  would 
send  it  back  to  him,"  the  boy  said,  in  a 
decided  manner. 


The  Generous  Landlord.  4.5 

• 

"  Why,  my  son  ?"  was  the  inquiry. 

"  Because  he  is  a  bad  man,  mother,  and  not 
what  he  appears  to  be.  Don't  you  remember 
what  father  said  about  him,  just  before  he 
died,  and  the  promise  I  made  to  him?  And 
father  is  not  the  only  one  that  learned  to 
drink  there,  for  I  know  of  several  that  never 
take  a  glass  of  liquor,  only  at  Freeland's. 
Robert  Wood  learned  to  drink  there,  and  he 
goes  there  nearly  every  day,  to  get  a  glass  of 
wine.  He  says  that  he  would  not  be  seen  in 
such  a  place  as  Butler  keeps,  or  would  not 
touch  a  particle  of  his  drugged  whiskey  and 
rum.  But  Freeland,  he  says,  keeps  only  pure 
liquor,  such  as  gentlemen  drink,  and  he  could 
not  be  persuaded  to  give  to  his  customers 
such  vije  stuff  as  Butler  and  Peck  deal  out 
to  loafers  and  drunkards.  But  I  guess  that 
Robert's  father  does  not  know  that  he  goes 


I  * 

46  The  Model  Landlord. 

to  Freeland's  for  wine  ; "  and  here  Howard 
happened  to  think  that  he  had  got  away  from 
his  subject,  and  so  he  repeated  the  same 
words  :  "  I  would  not  keep  the  money,  mother, 
I  would  send  it  back  to  him." 

"  Who  will  carry  it  back  to  him  ?  Will  you, 
Howard  ?"  she  asked,  with  a  smile. 

"  No,  for  I  promised  father  that  I  would 
never  go  there,  and  I'll  keep  that  promise  as 
long  as  I  live  ;"  and  a  very  resolute  look  came 
over  the  speaker's  face. 

"  God  help  you,  Howard,"  the  mother  said, 
and  then  she  added,  "  I  really  wish  that 
Andrew  Freeland  had  not  given  a  cent  of 
the  money.  I  do  not  see  how  Mr.  Weston 
came  to  ask  him  to  do  so." 

"  1  do  not  believe  that  Mr.  Weston  ever 
went  into  the  hotel  to  see  Freeland,  anyway, 
for  he  don't  think  the  nice  gentlemanly  ap- 


The  Generous  Landlord.  47 

pearing  landlord  is  so  good  as  he  seems  to  be. 
And  I  used  to  think  so  too,  when  I  went 
with  father  into  the  fine  bar-room  where  only 
gentlemen  go,  for  if  he  had  been  a  very  good 
man,  he  would  not  have  taken  the  money  that 
we  should  have  had." 

"I  do  not  tliink  that  we  will  return  the 
money  to  him.  If  he  had  given  a  hundred 
dollars  to  us,  it  would  not  be  any  more  than 
he  has  taken  from  Paul,"  Mrs.  Allen  replied. 

Just  then  there  came  a  low  call  from  the 
little  room  where  Harry  lay.  Mrs.  Allen 
went  gently,  and  found  her  boy  awake  and 
perfectly  conscious.  He  reached  out  his 
hand  feebly  toward  her. 

"  What  do  you  wish  for,  Harry  ?"  she 
asked,  taking  the  hot  feverish  hands  in 
her  own. 

"  I  want  to  tell  you  what  a  funny  dream  1 


48  The  Model  Landlord. 

had,  so  sit  down  a  little  while.  It  was  about 
Howard,  Mr.  Freeland,  and  myself.  I 
thought  that  we  were  all  together  upon  the 
'  play  ground '  just  back  of  the  school-house, 
and  Howard  and  I  were  looking  at  a  splen- 
did lot  of  toys  and  other  nice  things  that 
Mr.  Freeland  had  brought  with  him.  I  can- 
not tell  you  the  names  of  half  of  them,  but 
there  were  toys  looking  just  like  birds  and 
squirrels,  and  at  first  I  thought  that  they 
were  real.  Then  there  were  painted  boats 
and  ships  and  all  kinds  of  beautiful  shells. 
He  soon  arranged  'them  all  around  very 
nicely  upon  the  low  branches  of  the  trees, 
and  some  were  placed  on  the  ground.  I  tell 
you  the  old  school-grounds  looked  splendid, 
and  when  Mr.  Freeland  hung  up  starry  flags 
and  baskets  of  jewels  in  the  tree-tops, 
and  then  scattered  gold  coins  all  over  the 


TTie  Dream.  49 

ground  before  us,  O  mother,  it  was  perfectly 
beautiful  ! 

"  Then  Mr.  Freeland  told  Howard  and  me, 
that  if  we  would  go  with  him,  he  would  take 
us  where  all  of  these  beautiful  things  could 
be  found,  and  we  could  get  all  we  wished  for 
and  bring  them  home  with  us.  Howard  said 
he  did  not  believe  it  and  would  not  go.  But 

I    did    not    think    that    Mr.    Freeland   was 

• 

deceiving  us,  and  so  I  started  after  him.  He 
went  through  many  a  beautiful  field  and 
grove  at  first,  and  I  was  very  sure  that  it 
would  all  come  out  right,  and  that  I  should 
get  the  nice  things.  But  soon  the  way  be- 
gan to  become  dark  and  gloomy,  and  at  last 
we  were  walking  in  a  dismal  swamp,  where 
there  were  large  frightful  snakes  and  savage 
animals.  Then  all  at  once,  Mr.  Freeland 
turned  into  a  strange  wild  animal,  and  sprang 


50  The  Model  Landlord. 

upon  me.  I  tried  to  get  away  from  him,  but 
I  saw  a  hundred  more  animals  just  like  him 
all  rushing  toward  me.  I  do  not  know  just 
how  I  got  away  from  them,  but  I  soon  found 
myself  out  in  an  open  field,  among  the 
flowers,  and  Mr.  Weston  was  there  also, 
and  helped  me  home  again.  I  never  dreamed 
about  Mr.  Freeland  before,  and  I  can't  think 
how  I  happened  to,  this  time."  And  here 

• 

the  sick  boy  closed  his  eyes  and  was  soon 
sleeping. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

ANOTHER  MAN-TRAP. 

• 

,  you  are  getting  too  noisy," 
said  Mr.  Andrew  Freeland,  to 
two  or  three  of  his  "  wine  cus- 
tomers" who  seemed  rather  large  to  be 
termed  boys.  "  There  are  a  number  of 
gentlemen  staying  here  to-night,  besides  our 
regular  boarders  ;  some  of  these  are  within 
hearing,  and  it  will  not  do  to  disturb  them," 
and  the  landlord  spoke  in  a  low,  familiar  way. 
"We  are  all  gentlemen,  Mr.  Freeland," 
answered  Luke  Lewis,  in  an  offended  manner. 
"  You  seem  to  talk  as  though  we  were  regular 
bar-room  loafers,  and  the  rest  very  fine 
gentlemen.  If  we  are  loafers  we  will  go 


jp  The  Model  Landlord. 

down  to  Bob  Butler's  and  stay  with  the  rest 
of  them." 

"  You  are  mistaken,  Luke,"  replied  the 
landlord,  in  a  very  pleasant  way.  "I  c|id 
not  mean  any  such  thing,  but  these  other 
gentlemen  are  a  little  different  from  you. 
They  are  not  such  free-hearted,  fun-loving 
good  fellows  as  you  are,  but  the  grave,  quiet 
ones,  who  think  that  it  is  a  sin  to  smile. 
Why,  Luke,  there  are  two  ministers  and  one 
Bible  agent  within  hearing  of  this  room,  and 
I'll  bet  a  glass  of  wine  that  they  are  all  say- 
ing their  prayers  this  moment,  so  you  see 
that  it  will  not  do  to  be  very  noisy  down  here." 

"  Why  did  you  not  have  them  pray  before 
they  went  to  their  rooms,  so  as  not  to  spoil 
all  our  fun  ?  You  should  have  had  family 
prayer,  at  least,  if  not  a  real  old  Methodist 
prayer-meeting." 


Another  Man-  Trap.  5J 

"  A  Methodist  pow-wow,  you  should  have 
said,  Luke."  observed  Walter  Payson,  with  a 
sneer  upon  his  lips. 

"  You  are  pretty  rough  upon  the  Metho- 
dists, Walter,  being  that  you  are  one  yourself, 
or  used  to  be,"  and  Luke  laughed  loudly 
again.  » 

"  It  will  not  answer,"  said  the  landlord, 
again.  "They  will  certainly  hear  you.  Be 
quiet,  boys,  and  some  other  time  you  can 
make  up  for  this." 

But  the  "  boys "  had  been  taking  wine 
most  too  freely  to  be  easily  silenced,  and  so 
pretending  not  to  hear  Mr.  Freeland's  com- 
mand, Walter  Payson  went  on  : 

"I  tell  you,  Luke,  I  have  got  over  the 
Methodist  fever.  It  did  not  hold  on  very 
long — this  grand  old  wine  that  Freeland 
keeps  broke  it  up,  and  I  have  not  had  a  re- 


54  The  Modd  Landlord. 

lapse  yet.  But  father  thinks  I  am  all  right 
yet,  for  he  don't  know  about  my  visits  here. 
I  go  to  church  every  Sabbath,  and  I  attend 
the  Thursday  evening  prayer  meeting  regu- 
larly, and  look  as  sober  as  father  himself." 

"You  play  the  hypocrite,  perfectly,  I  ad- 
mit," replied  Luke,  "but  you  are  a  royal, 
good  fellow,  after  all,  that  is  after  you  have 
taken  a  glass  or  two  of  wine,  to  awaken  your 
better  nature.  But  let  us  have  another 
drink,  landlord.  No,  a  whole  bottle,  I  mean, 
and  I  will  pay  for  it.  Every  landlord  don't 
keep  such  wine  as  that,  and  some  can't  afford 
to  have  anything  fit  to  drink.  Bob  Butler 
keeps  nothing  but  the  worst  kind  of  poison- 
ous whiskey  and  beer,  and  I  don't  believe 
that  he  ever  saw  any  such  wine  as  this  in  his 
life.  But,  hurry  up,  Freeland,  for  I'm  getting 
dry." 


Another  Man-Trap.  55 

"I  think  that  you  have  taken  too  much 
wine  already,  boys,"  answered  the  landlord, 
slowly.  "  I  would  not  drink  any  more  to- 
night ;  if  you  do  you  will  not  be  in  a  very 
good  condition  to  attend  church  to-morrow." 

"  I  think  we  know  when  we  have  drank 
enough,"  replied  Walter,  putting  on  the 
offended  look  that  generally  brought  the 
landlord  to  terms. 

Mr.  Freeland  smiled  pleasantly  again,  and 
was  undoubtedly  about  to  compromise  the 
matter  in  some  way,  when  Mr.  Payne  came 
in,  rather  suddenly.  Another  gentleman  ac- 
companied him,  that  he  introduced  to  the 
landlord  as  Mr.  Winters — a  friend  who  had 
unexpectedly  come  upon  the  evening  train. 
He  also,  was  evidently  a  gentleman,  for  his 
general  appearance  at  once  proved  the  fact. 
Freeland  cast  an  imploring  look  at  the  two 


5<5  The  Model  Landlord. 

young  men  that  were  half  intoxicated  with 
the  wine  they  had  drank,  but  it  did  not  avail 
anything,  as  they  were  not  in  a  condition  to 
heed  the  silent  appeals  made  by  the  landlord. 

"  Please  give  us  a  bottle  of  the  wine,  Mr. 
Landlord,"  said  Luke,  in  a  voice  that  betrayed 
the  fact  he  had  already  taken  "  too  much,"  as 
Mr.  Freeland  had  said. 

But  the  landlord  just  then  was  very  busy 
in  talking  with  the  new  comers,  and  so  did 
not  heed  the  request. 

"  There  comes  John,  he  will  get  it  for  us," 
and  so  the  request  for  wine  was  repeated  to 
the  bar-tender,  who  had  been  absent  from  the 
room  for  the  last  half  hour.  John  caught  a 
meaning  look  from  the  landlord,  and  so  he 
started  toward  the  "  wine  room,"  as  if  to  get 
the  wine. 

The  stranger,  after  a  few  moments  of  con- 


Another  Man- Trap.  57 

versation  with  the  landlord,  ordered  his  sup- 
per, and  a  room  for  the  night,  and  then  passed 
out  with  Mr.  Payne.  , 

"  See  here,  boys,"  the  landlord  said,  as  soon 
as  Mr.  Payne  and  his  friend  were  out  of  hear- 
ing) "you  can  have  the  wine  if  you  will  go 
away  with  it ;  but  the  fact  is  you  are  getting 
too  noisy,  and  I  cannot  allow  you  to  remain 
here.  I  must  keep  order,  or  the  reputation 
of  my  house  will  suffer.  So  take  the  wine 
boys,  and  go  away." 

"  Where  shall  we  go  ?"  asked  Luke  Lewis, 
while  a  real  angry  look  came  over  his  face. 

"See  here,  Mr.  Freeland,  if  we  are  gentle- 
men we  will  be  treated  like  gentlemen.  If 
we  cannot  remain  here  for  a  social  time  once 
in  a  while,  we  have  got  through  coming  here 
at  all.  Some  of  the  gentlemen  around  here 
have  all  the  wine  they  wish  for,  and  brandy 


*)8  77ie  Model  Landlord. 

too,  and  remain  up  to  drink  it  and  have  a 
good  time  generally  until  nearly  morning. 
Some  of  your  boarders  up  in  the  third  story 
do  this  very  often.  I  could  name  these 
favored  ones,  Mr.  Freeland,  and  maybe  I 
shall,  sometime.  Then  I  know  that  there  is 
a  certain  room  in  this  very  respectable  hotel, 
that  certain  gentlemen  employ  occasionally 
for  certain  purposes.  If  some  of  these  min- 
isters that  are  here  knew  just  what  I  do,  they 
might  not  think  that  Andrew  Freeland  was 
a  Christian."  And  here  the  speaker  and  his 
friend  arose  to  go. 

"Wait  a  moment,  boys,"  the  landlord  said, 
in  his  pleasant,  persuasive  voice.  "  Let  me 
explain  a  little  more  clearly." 

But  the  young  men  were  both  too  excited 
by  strong  drink  to  listen  to  an  explanation, 
and  so  they  walked  rudely  out  of  the  room, 


Another  Man-Trap.  $g 

each  using  words  too  vile  to  be  recorded. 

"  I  am  glad  they  are  gone,"  said  the  land- 
lord to  the  bar-tender,  who  had  just  come  in. 
"  The  fact  is  those  two  fellows  are  getting 
pretty  wild,  and  we  can  afford  to  lose  them. 
They  will  ruin  our  reputation  if  they  keep 
on  coming  here,  and  cutting  up  as  they  have 
of  late.  They  had  better  finish  up  their 
career  down  at  Bob  Butler's  or  Peck's,  as 
they  undoubtedly  will.  But  I  am  thankful 
that  there  were  not  any  present  to  witness 
their  performances  to-night,  or  rather  to 
listen  to  their  words." 

John  did  not  reply,  for  this  occurred  at  a 
late  hour,  after  the  guests  and  boarders  had 
all  retired  for  the  night,  and  the-  visitors 
gone  to  their  several  homes.  John  was  very 
sleepy  and  so  not  very  talkative. 

"  I    wonder    who     the     gentleman     was 


60  The  Model  Landlord. 

with  Payne,"  said  the  landlord  again.  He 
evidently  expected  no  reply,  for  he  answered 
his  own  question.  "  He  is  somebody  of  dis- 
tinction, for  Payne  never  associates  with  very 
ordinary  people.  He  is  evidently  a  man  of 
wealth  and  refinement,  at  least." 

Here  Mr.  Freeland  became  drowsy  himself, 
and  suggested  that  they  "shut  up"  for  the 
night.  So  the  floor  was  nicely  swept  and 
curtains  dropped.  The  money  in  the  till 
was  taken  out,  and  the  bottles  of  liquor  all 
removed  out  of  sight,  as  it  was  a  rule  of  the 
institution  to  allow  no  liquor  to  be  placed  in 
view  upon  the  Sabbath.  The  blinds  were 
closed,  the  doors  locked  securely,  and  then 
Mr.  Freeland  retired  to  his  own  sleeping 
room. 

Walter  Payson  and  Luke  Lewis  were  in  no 
condition  to  return  home  after  they  went  out 


Another  Man-Trap.  6 1 

of  Mr.  Freeland's  bar-room.  And  although 
they  were  half  intoxicated,  yet  they  seemed 
to  be  aware  of  the  fact  that  they  must  find 
quarters  somewhere  else  until  the  effects  oi 
the  wine  should  pass  off. 

"  If  the  barn  was  not  quite  so  near  our 
home,  we  would  go  there  and  remain  to 
night,"  said  Walter.  "But  the  old  man 
would  be  sure  to  find  it  out,  and  then  there 
would  be  trouble." 

"  I  want  something  more  to  drink,"  said 
Luke,  "  I'm  fairly  burning  up  with  thirst.  I 
would  take  a  drink  of  Bob  Butler's  whiskey  in 
a  moment  if  it  would  only  satisfy  this  burning 
appetite.  Suppose  we  go  into  Butler's,  a 
little  while.  He  keeps  open  door  all  night, 
and  we  shall  not  get  turned  out  into  the 
street." 

"If  we  can  manage  not  to  get  found  out, 


62  The  Model  Landlord. 

we  might  go  for  this  once.  But  if  the  old 
folks  at  home  should  find  it  out,  they  would 
take  on  awfully.  Mother  mistrusts  now  a 
little  about  matters,  and  watches  my  move- 
ments pretty  closely.  But  I'll  run  the  risk 
if  you  will,  and  if  found  out,  I'll  suffer  the 
consequences.  Never  young  but  once,  you 
know,"  and  here  Walter  turned  down  the 
street  toward  Bob  Butler's  saloon. 

In  a  few  moments  the  young  men  walked 
into  the  bar-room  of  Bob  Butler,  and  were  a 
little  surprised  to  find  a  dozen  men  yet  re- 
maining in  the  smoky  filthy  place.  The  new 
comers  would  have  turned  away  in  disgust 
under  ordinary  circumstances,  but  as  it  was 
they  seated  themselves  near  the  door,  to 
watch  the  general  movement  of  things 
Some  of  the  men  present,  were  real  "  old 
soakers,"  in  the  last  stages  of  drunkenness ; 


Another  Man- Trap.  63 

and  not  one  in  the  room,  but  that  showed 
the  effects  of  strong  drink.  They  were  hav- 
ing a  general  good  time,  as  they  termed  it. 
It  being  Saturday  night,  money  was  a  little 
more  plenty  than  upon  some  other  evenings. 
They  had  been  rather  noisy  before  Luke 
and  Walter  went  in,  but  they  quieted  down 
a  little,  for  it  was  an  unusual  event  for  a 
well-dressed  intelligent  man  to  be  seen  in 
the  filthy  place.  But  it  did  not  last  long,  for 
the  whiskey  spirit  was  abroad  in  the  room, 
and  it  soon  began  to  reveal  itself  again. 

"Spies  from  the  goodly  land,"  said  one,  in 
a  voice  loud  enough  to  be  heard  all  over 
the  room. 

"  No,  some  of  Freeland's  gentlemen  cus- 
tomers. Glad  that  I  am  not  one,"  said 
another. 

44  But  you  used  to  be,  Jack,  and  not  very 


64.  The  Model  Landlord. 

long  ago,  either.  You  got  too  rough  and 
loafer-like  to  suit  Freeland,  and  so  he  sent 
you  adrift,  and  some  one  else  a  little  more 
refined  took  your  place.  That  is  the  way 
with  Freeland ;  he  gets  a  fellow  well  to 
going  doing  hill,  and  just  before  he  lands 
at  the  bottom,  he  gives  you  a  hint  to 
leave."  And  here  the  speaker  stopped,  as  if 
fearful  that  he  had  said  too  much. 

"  Freeland  is  a  regular  old  hypocrite,  to 
make  the  best  of  him.  He  is  very  careful 
to  go  to  church  every  Sabbath,  and  to  keep 
his  reputation  good,  but  he  is  not  any  better, 
really,  than  Bob,  yonder,"  said  the  first 
speaker. 

"  Shut  your  head,  you  fool,  and  let  us  have 
.some  more  of  that  '  fourth-proof  whiskey. 
It  is  a  mean-  business  to  be  forever  talking 
about  a  man  at  his  back ;  so  let  us  drink 


'Another  Man-trap.  65 

i 

and  forget  Freeland  and  his  failings.  Fill  up 
the  glasses,  Bob  !" 

Bob  was 'not  long  in  "filling  them  up," 
taking  care  to  have  two  more  than  usual  in 
.readiness. 

"  See  here,  young  men,  I  don't  know  as 
you  will  drink  with  us — Class  No.  2,  you 
know ; — but  I  am  not  a  going  to  slight  you, 
and  if  you  feel  disposed  to  join  us,  we  shall 
be  very  happy  to  have  you  do  so.  The 
liquor  is  capital,  I  can  tell  you  ;  it  goes  to 
the  right  place  every  time,  and  is  not  so 
aggravating  as  Freeland's  wine  is  ;"  and  a 
glass  of  it  was  held  toward  Luke  Lewis. 

The  fumes  had  reached  him  before,  and 
awakened  his  thirst  to  a  still  greater  degree, 
and  almost  unconsciously  he  extended  his 
hand  for  the  same.  Another  glass  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  Walter  Payson,  and 


66  The  Model  Landlord. 

in  a  moment  both  were  drained  by  the  young 
men. 

"  Capital  is  no  name  for  that  liquor,"  said 
Luke,  now,  all  prepared  for  a  night's  carousal. 
"  Give  us  another  drink  all  around,  and  I'll 
back  the  movement,"  he  said,  while  a  new, 
strange  light  gleamed  in  his  eyes. 

But  we  cannot  describe  the  scene  that 
followed.  We  draw  a  curtain  over  it,  and 
will  only  say,  that  it  was  a  sad  one,  like  all 
others  in  such  places,  when  a  new  victim  is 
entrapped  forever.  That  night  was  the 
beginning  of  a  dark  era  in  the  lives  of  Luke 
Lewis  and  Walter  Payson. 


CHAPTER    V. 

SORROWING   ONES — THE   NEW   MINISTER. 

HE   sweet,   solemn   Sabbath  came, 
l@«y  with  its  beautiful  sunshine  and  holy 


ihj    stillness,  and  the  spirit  of  love  and 
tranquillity  seemed  to  be  reigning  over  all 

the  land.     The  streets  of  A were  all  very 

quiet,  and  the  good  people  seemed  to  be 
aware  that  it  was  a  day  of  peace  and  rest. 
There  was  nothing  to  be  seen  or  heard  in 
the  wide,  pleasant  streets,  to  remind  one  that 
sin  and  vice  took  up  their  abode  in  the  quiet 
village.  The  faces  of  those  that  M/ere  occa- 
sionally seen  in  the  street,  bore  not  the 
traces  of  care  and  suffering,  for  sorrow  gene- 
rally hides  itself,  as  far  as  possible,  from  the 
gaze  of  the  curious,  unsympathizing  world. 


68  The  Model  Landlord. 

But  there  was  deep,  heartfelt  suffering, 

even  in  the  quiet  village  of  A .  There 

were  aching  hearts,  and  eyes  dimmed  with 
tears,  in  the  little  secluded  hamlet,  far  away 
from  the  noisy,  dusty  cities,  where  vice  and 
evil  stalk  abroad  like  a  pestilence. 

The  sweet,  loud  voices  of  the  church  bells 
rang  out  upon  the  morning  air,  calling  the 
villagers  together  to  worship  the  great  All- 
Father.  Many  obeyed  the  summons — some 
were  indifferent  to  the  appeal,  while  one  or 
two  remained  at  home,  to  hide  in  the  seclu- 
sion of  their  rooms  the  tear-stained  faces. 

The  dread  certainty  that  her  son  was 
going  to  ruin,  had  just  come,  that  glorious 
Sabbath  morning,  to  poor  Mrs.  Payson.  For 
many  a  long  month  she  had  feared  that 
Walter  was  going  wrong,  and  had  watched 
and  prayed,  as  only  a  gentle,  loving  mother 


Sorrowing  Ones.  69 

can  do.  But  that  morning,  just  as  the  day- 
light began  to  gleam  in  the  east,  he — her 
only  son,  came  staggering  home,  deeply  in- 
toxicated. No  wonder  the  tears  came  in 
gushing  streams  from  her  faded  eyes — no 
wonder  that  she  moaned  in  piteous  tones, 
"  Oh,  my  poor  boy  !  Oh,  my  poor  boy  !" 

She  knew  that  the  lines  were  passed,  and 
that  he  her  idol  would  go  to  ruin.  She  knew 
that  there  was  no  hope  for  him,  for  the 
Paysons,  when  once  upon  the  enchanted 
ground,  never  got  off  again.  One  glorious, 
noble  boy,  had  already  been  slain,  and  the 
remaining  son  was  a  victim  in  the  same 
destroyer's  hands.  Three  of  her  husband's 
brothers  had  fallen,  and  Mr.  Payson  himself 
had  only  been  saved  by  adopting  "  total 
abstinence  "  as  a  rule  of  life. 

Walter  was  up  in  his  own  room,  sleeping 


fo  The  Model  Landlord. 

off  the  effects  of  the  liquor  that  he  had 
drank.  He  did  not  feel  the  soft  air  of  the 
morning  sweep  over  his  brow.  He  did  not 
see  the  beauty  that  rested  upon  the  sky  and 
earth,  or  hear  the  chiming  bells,  mingling 
sweetly  with  nature's  melody.  No,  he  only 
heard  the  din  of  loud  angry  voices,  the 
horrid  oaths  and  drunken  songs,  that  still 
rang  in  his  brains.  He  only  saw  flitting 
visions  of  bloated  faces  and  red  bleared  eyes, 
such  as  haunted  the  den  that  he  had  visited 
the  night  before.  Poor  Walter  !  will  not 
these  horrid  sights  and  sounds  break  the 
charm  that  binds  him  to  the  enchanted 
grounds  ? 

Mr.  Payson  also  remained  at  home,  that 
day.  It  was  seldom  that  his  place  in  the  old 
church  was  vacant,  yet,  he  could  not  go  there, 
while  his  son  was  at  home  intoxicated.  To 


Sorrowing  Ones.  77 

. 

be  sure,  he  did  not  weep,  as  did  the  poor 
mother,  but  yet  the  fountain  of  bitterness 
was  'full,  and  the  strong  man  felt  every 
moment  that  it  would  overflow. 

"  Can  he  not  be  saved — must  he  be  lost  ?" 
the  mother  said  to  her  husband  once  that 
morning.  But  Mr.  Payson  did  not  reply. 
Indeed  he  dared  not  speak,  for  fear  that  the 
bitter  fountain  would  break  forth,  and  so  he 
remained  silent.  But  there  was  a  look  upon 
his  face  which  said,  "  The  boy  is  lost  !" 

There  was  another  sad  heart  that  morning 

in  A .  A  loving  sister  was  mourning  over 

a  brother's  downfall.  The  mother  had  slept 
for  many  a  day  in  the  village  church-yard, 
and  the  brother  and  sister  had  been  left  alone 
in  the  world.  Alone,  did  we  say  ?  Perhaps 
not  in  the  true  sense,  for  the  father  yet  lived, 
but  he  was  a  drunkard  !  His  wife  had  suffered, 


j2  TJie  Model  Landlord. 

until  the  weary  wheels  of  life  stood  still,  and 
then  brave  little  Ellen  took  up  the  burden,  just 
where  the  mother  had  laid  it  do\vn,  and  the 
home  machinery  went  on,  only  going  wrong 
when  the  father  came.  Luke  Lewis  was  a 
noble  fellow  before  he  began  to  go  to  Free- 
land's.  He  loved  the  little  resolute  sister  at 
home,  and  his  strong  manly  arms  procured 
for  her  the  comforts  of  life.  And  so  the  days 
went  on — grand,  royal  old  days,  when  the 
father  was  absent,  until  the  serpent  entered 
the  second  time  into  the  home. 

But  Luke  fell — just. where  a  thousand 
others  have  done.  He  "crossed  the  lines," 
and  in  a  little  time  was  going  swiftly  toward 
the  goal  of  ruin.  Yet  he  did  not  abandon 
the  pure  innocent  sister  that  clung  to  him  so 
confidingly.  He  could  not  do  such  a  cruel 
deed  very  easily.  He  must  take  a  few  more 


Sorrowing  Ones.  7J 

steps  in  the  wicked  way,  before  he  can  do 
that.  A  very  long  step  was  taken  the  night 
he  went  into  Bob  Butler's — a  few  more  like 
it,  and  he  will  be  ready  for  any  deed,  even  to 
shake  off  the  little  soft  white  hand  that  clings 
to  his  strong  arms. 

How  Ellen  wept  that  morning,  and  how 
she  moaned  and  prayed,  never  can  quite  be 
told.  He  did  not  go  home  as  Walter  Payson 
had  done,  for  he  was  too  much  intoxicated 
to  walk,  so  Ellen,  who  had  remained  up 
watching  for  him  nearly  all  night,  went  out 
to  find  the  wanderer. 

"  Down  at  Butler's,"  some  one  had  said  to 
her,  who  had  heard  the  sad  story.  In  a, mo- 
ment the  truth  flashed  over  her  mind,  but  she- 
said  :  "  Not  there— not  there  !" 

She  went  there,  however,  and  inquired  for 
her  brother.  In  a  very  pleasant  voice  the 


7^t  The  Model  Landlord. 

landlord  informed  her  that  her  brother  "was 
in  the  bar-room,  but  was  engaged  just  then — 
would  soon  be  at  liberty,  and  then  return 
home." 

"  But  I  must  see  him  now,"  she  said,  her  lips 
quivering  with  emotion.  Bob  Butler  saw 
that  she  would  not  be  denied,  and  so  he 
said  : 

"  I  will  go  in  and  speak  to  him.  Wait 
here,  and  he  will  soon  be  in." 

The  landlord  started  for  the  bar-room,  but 
instead  of  waiting  in  the  dingy  hall  into 
which  she  had  been  admitted,  Ellen  went 
softly  toward  the  place  where  she  knew  her 
brother  was.  The  landlord  had  left  the  door 
slightly  ajar,  and  as  Ellen  glanced  into  the 
room,  she  saw  Luke  trying  to  rise  from  the 
floor,  where  he  had  evidently  been  asleep. 

There  was  a  wild,  confused  look  upon  his 


Sorrowing'  Ones.  75 

face,  yet  his  sad  appearance  did  not  prevent 
the  sister  fr^m  springing  to  his  side,  and 
winding  her  arms  around  his  neck.  "  Luke, 
Luke  !"  she  sobbed,  "  why  are  you  here  ?" 

"  Where  am  I  ?"  he  asked,  looking  around 
the  room.  "Oh,  I  remember  now;"  and  a 
look  of  shame  came  over  his  face. 

"  But  this  is  no  place  for  you,  Nell,"  he 
said,  rising  to  his  feet. 

"  Nor  for  you,  Luke,"  she  said,  looking 
around  the  place.  "It  is  not  a  fit  place  for 
swine  to  live  in,"  she  added,  in  a  firm  voice. 

"We  will  go  ho'me,  Nell,"  the  brother  said, 
walking  in  an  unsteady  way  toward  the  door. 

The  sister  was  glad  to  get  the  loved  one 
away  from  the  vile  place  ;  although  it  was  a 
•sacl  blow  to  the  pride  of  the  proud-spirited  lit- 
tle woman  to  be  seen  upon  the  Sabbath-day, 
with  her  brother  in  such  a  condition.  But 


7<5  The  Mo'del  Landlord. 

the  wounded,  loving  heart  bore  a  still  deeper 
blow  than  pride  had  suffered.  When  safely  at 
home,  Luke  also  retired  to  rest,  for  his  head 
ached  sadly,  and  he  needed  more  sleep. 
Ellen  helped  him  to  his  room,  arranged  his 
bed  for  him,  and  left  him  alone  while  she 
went  away  to  weep. 

It  was  always  very  quiet  and  orderly 
around  the  hotel  of  Andrew  Freeland,  upon 
the  Sabbath.  A  drunken  man  was  never 
seen  there,  and  it  was  very  doubtful  whether 
a  drink  of  liquor  could  have  been  obtained 
in  the  ordinary  way.  The  landlord  was 
careful  to  walk  in  the  path  that  the  law  had 
marked  out  for  him,  in  this  respect,  and  it 
would  have  been  a  hard  matter  to  have 
proved  that  he  had  ever  stepped  over  its 
limits. 

At  the  usual  hour  that  morning  breakfast 


The  New  Minister.  77 

was  in  readiness,  and  the  guests  and  board- 
ers all  summoned  to  the  large  dining-room. 
Everything  was  in  perfect  order,  for  Mrs. 
Freeland  was  careful  to  maintain  her  reputa- 
tion of  being  a  model  landlady.  Travellers 
all  said  that  Mr.  Freeland  excelled  in  setting 
a  good  table,  as  well  as  in  maintaining  order 
and  quiet  about  the  hotel. 

"  You  have  a  very  pleasant  village,  Mr. 
Freeland,"  observed  one  of  the  ministerial 
gentlemen,  after  the  breakfast  was  eaten. 

"  Yes,  a  pleasant  village,  and  pleasant 
people,"  answered  the  landlord.  "  We  have 
but  a  few  immoral  people  in  our  vicinity. 
Indeed  we  feel  a  little  proud  of  our  village 
and  people." 

"  How  is  it  in  regard  to  the  religious  senti- 
ments of  the  people  ?"  inquired  Mr.  Winters. 
"  Morality  is  good  as  far  as  it  goes,  we  often 


7#  The  Model  Landlord. 

hear  said,  which  I  believe  is  a  true  saying. 
But  it  does  not  always  save  people  from  sin, 
although  it  keeps  them  from  committing  very 
krreat  offences,  generally." 

The  landlord  looked  at  Mr.  Winters,  and 
the  thought  occurred  to  him,  that  this  gentle- 
man was  the  new  minister  that  was  expected 

that  very  day  in  A .  He  was  almost  sure 

of  it,  as  he  saw  two  of  the  official  members  of 
the  church  in  which  he  was  to  preach,  com- 
ing slowly  toward  the  hotel. 

"Our  churches  are  generally  well  filled, 
and  if  that  makes  them  religious,  then  they 
must  be  so,"  replied  Mr.  Freeland,  with  a 
smile. 

Mr.  Winters  also  smiled  at  the  remark,  and 
replied  that  "  bad  men  sometimes  went  to 
church,  while  goqd  ones  remained  at  home." 

Just  then  the  two  men  who  were  looking 


The  New  Minister.  7p 

. 

for  the  new  minister  came  in,  and  after  shak- 
ing hands  with  Mr.  Winters,  one  of  them  in- 
quired, 

"  Why  did  you  not  find  the  way  to  some 
of  our  homes  ?  My  wife  was  expecting  you, 
and  supposed  that  you  would  come,  although 
I  was  not  at  home  to  meet  you  when  the 
train  arrived." 

"  I  should  have  done  so,  but  I  accidentally 
met  my  friend  George  Payne,  and  as  it  was 
quite  late,  I  accepted  his  invitation  to  remain 
here  over  night.  I  have  had  very  comfort- 
able quarters,  although,"  he  added,  with  a 
smile 

"  We  wish  to  see  you  alone,  Mr.  Winters," 
one  of  the  men  said,  "  and  as  it  will  be  some 
time  before  the  usual  church  services  are  to 
begin,  I  think  that  you  had  better  go  home 
with  me." 


So  The  Model  Landlord. 

Mr.  Winters  consented  to  the  plan,  and 
soon  the  three  gentlemen  went  out  of  the 
hotel. 

"  You  have  an  orderly  hotel,"  observed 
the  minister  to  his  friend. 

"  Yes,  and  an  orderly  hotel  keeper,"  was 
the  reply.  "  Andrew  Freeland  is  one  of  the 
best  men  in  the  community.  He  attends 
church  regularly,  and  gives  very  liberally  for 
all  benevolent  objects.  If  he  does  sell  a  little 
liquor  now  and. then,  he  is  not  such  a  bad  fel- 
low, after  all." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MORE  DARK  DAYS — THE  TEMPTATION. 


HERE  were  more  dark  days  in  store 
for  Mrs.  Allen  and  her  boys.  They 
did  not.  depart  so  quickly  as  the 
mother  hoped  they  would,  but  still  lingered 
around  with  their  gloomy  shadows.  Harry 
was  just  beginning  to  amend,  when  Howard 
again  was  prostrated  by  the  same  disease, 
and  for  a  few  days  they  all  thought  that 
he  must  die.  But  Howard  had  a  work  to 
do,  and  so  he  lived.  Again  he  came  out  of 
.the  valley  of  suffering,  in  the  same  almost 
helpless  condition  as  before,  and  it  was  feared 
that  he  would  ever  remain  an  invalid  ;  but 
he  slowly  regained  his  strength,  and  after  a 


82  The  Model  Landlord. 

while,  could  walk  about  the  house  ;  yet  it 
soon  became  evident  that  he  would  never  be 
the  same  active,  strong  boy  that  he  once 
was.  Yet,  as  his  mind  and  reason  were  still 
left,  Mrs.  Allen  did  not  quite  despair,  but 
hoped  that  her  b9y  would  in  some  way  be 
able  to  gain  an  honest  living  in  the  world. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  pay 
Mr.  Weston  for  the  cow  very  soon,"  he  said, 
half  sadly,  one  day. 

"  I  think  that  he  is  in  no  hurry  for  the 
money,"  replied  Mrs.  Allen.  "  Perhaps  you 
can  work  in  some  other  way,  yet,  and  earn 
it.  You  have  a  pretty  good  education,  and 
it  may  be  that  you  can  put  it  to  some  prac- 
tical use.  When  you  gejt  perfectly  well  we 
will  see  what  can  be  done." 

"  I  can  do  light  work  now,  and  I  think 
that  I  ought  to  be  looking  for  a  place  at 


More  Dark  Days.  83 

once.     Mr.  Weston  could  help  me,  and  would 
do  so  very  willingly,  if  I  should  ask  him." 

"  I  do  not  think  that  you  are  strong  enough 
just  now  to  work,  but  you  may  be  soon  ;  until 
you  are  you  had  better  remain  quiet.  Some 
way  I  am  sure  will  yet  open  for  you,"  and 
the  mother  spoke  in  a  very  hopeful  voice. 

"  I  wish  that  I  could  be  a  book-keeper  in  a 
store,"  Howard  went  on,  "Silas  Grey  is 
studying  book-keeping,  and  his  father  is 
going  to  take  him  into  his  store  in  about  a 
year.  Or  if  I  could  be  an  ordinary  clerk  I 
would  be  very  glad.  I  mean  to  ask  Mr. 
Weston  if  he  thinks  I  could  obtain  a  posi- 
tion somewhere  in  the  village,  if  I  wen 
qualified  for  such  a  place." 

"  I  think  that  I  will  write  to  your  Uncl< 
Lawrence,  and  see  if  he  cannot  find  som 
lijrht  ^rrinloymer.t  for  vou.  He  is  a  merchant. 


84  The  Model  Landlord. 

and  is  doing  an  extensive  business  in  a  large 
village — a  manufacturing  town  in  Massachu- 
setts. He  employs  a  number  of  men  and 
boys  himself,  and  may  be  inclined  to  give 
you  employment  in  his  own  establishment. 
But  we  will  let  the  matter  rest  for  the 
present." 

The  days  glided  along,  and  soon  ushered 
in  the  golden  autumn.  The  summer  that 
had  brought  so  much  sorrow  and  suffering  to 
the  Allen  family,  went  by,  and  left  nothing 
but  remembrances  of  the  scenes  and  events 
recorded.  The  most  of  them  were  sad  ones, 
and  yet  there  had  been  a  few  stray  bits  of 
sunshine  here  and  there — enough,  at  least, 
to  keep  alive  the  sweet  messenger  of  hope 
in  the  hearts  of  sorrowing  ones. 

Harry  had  become  strong  and  healthy 
again,  but  Howard  was  yet  frail  and  slender. 


More  Dark  Days.  85 

Disease  had  taken  hold  of  him  so  firmly,  and 
kept  him  so  long,  that  it  had  left  his  physical 
powers  very  much  impaired.  But  he  must 
do  something,  for  the  money  that  had  been 
given  to  Mrs.  Allen  had  been  exhausted,  and 
she  herself  was  not  well  enough  to  work  as 
formerly.  The  long  nights  of  watching  with 
her  husband  and  children,  together  with  the 
hard  labors  of  the  day,  had  worn  upon  her, 
and  she  too  was  almost  an  invalid.  So  How- 
ard began  to  look  around  for  something  to  do, 
but  was  not  very  successful  in  finding  such 
a  situation  as  he  desired.  If  he  had  been  able 
to  do  farm-work,  Mr.  Weston  would  gladly 
have  employed  him,  but,  as  that  was  im- 
possible, he  must  look  for  something  that  he 
could  do.  Mrs.  Allen  had  written  to  her 
brother,  but  had  not  yet  received  an  answer. 
So  the  dark  days  lingered,  in  spite  of  all  that 


86  The  Model  Landlord. 

had  been  done  to  bring  peace  and  happiness 
into  the  little  home. 

"  Have  you  found  a  place,  yet,  to  work  ?" 
inquired  Mr.  Freeland,  the  landlord,  one 
morning,  as  he  chanced  to  meet  Howard  in 
the  street. 

"Not  yet,"  answered  the  boy.  "But  I 
have  only  just  begun  to  look  for  employ- 
ment," he  added,  stepping  along  as  if  anxious 
to  get  away  from  the  man. 

"  Wait  a  moment,  my  boy,"  Mr.  Freeland 
said  again.  "  Perhaps  I  can  help  you.  I  have 
been  thinking  of  late  about  getting  a  boy  to 
assist  John  and  Patrick  about  the  hotel.  They 
have  their  hands  full  all  of  the  time,  and  if  I 
could  get  some  one  to  do  a  portion  of  the 
light  work  that  belongs  to  them,  1  think  that 
it  would  be  good  policy.  The  work  is  not 
done  as  it  should  be  many  times,  and  things 


Tlie   Temptation.  87 

not  kept  in  the  orderly  condition  that  I  could 
wish.  Your  duties  would  be  very  light  and 
pleasant,  and  yet  I  would  pay  you  good 
wages.  I  think  you  would  do  well  in  such  a 
position.  I  will  give  you  five  dollars  a  week 
to  venture,  if  you  will  come." 

"Five  dollars  a  week  !"  how  these  words 
tempted  the  poor  boy  ;  and  for  a  few  mo- 
ments, he  was  very  angry  with  himself  to 
think  that  he  had  promised  his  father  that 
he  would  never  go  into  the  hotel.  Five  dol- 
lars a  week  was  more  than  he  could  earn  in 
any  other  way,  and  a  far  greater  amount 
than  he  had  dared  to  hope  for.  "  Why,  it 
would  support  the  whole  family,"  the  tempter 
whispered  in  his  ear.  "  Your  work,  too, 
would  be  very  light,  and  you  would  have  a 
great  deal  of  leisure  time,"  came  again,  in  an 
almost  audible  voice,  to  his  ears.  At  first 


88  The  Model  Landlord. 

the  boy  really  thought  that  Mr.  Freeland 
had  said  these  words,  but  in  a  moment  he 
knew  that  it  was  his  own  thoughts. 

"  Would  you  wish  me  to  sell  liquor  ?"  in- 
quired Howard,  still  under  the  tempter's 
power. 

The  landlord  evidently  did  not  expect  to 
hear  such  a  question,  and  he  started  slightly, 
and  looked  the  boy  in  the  face,  as  he  an- 
swered : 

"  Not  very  often,  I  think,  for  John  or  my- 
self is  usually  there  to  attend  to  our  custom- 
ers. Your  duties  would  generally  be,  to  do 
chores  about  the  bar-room,  such  as  sweeping 
the  floor,  dusting  the  furniture,  bringing  in 
fresh  water,  and  perhaps  sometimes  work- 
ing under  the  direction  of  Mrs.  Freeland. 
Then  another  pleasant  duty  would  be,  to 
drive  the  ponies,  whenever  Mrs.  Freeland 


The   Temptation.  89 

and  Davie  wishes  to  go  out.  They  are  very 
gentle,  and  you  can  easily  manage  them. 
But  what  do  you  say  about  accepting  this 
position,  my  boy  ?" 

"I  do  not  know  just  what  to  do  about  it," 
answered  Howard,  still  thinking  of  the  five 
dollars  a  week,  and  forgetting  all  about  the 
promise  he  had  made  to  his  father. 

"  I  know  of  several  boys,"  the  landlord 
continued,  that  would  accept  this  position  at 
half  the  wages  that  I  have  offered  to  you  ; 
but  I  know  how  much  you  have  passed 
through  of  late,  and  how  much  you  need  the 
pay.  I  believe  in  helping  the  poor  and  un- 
fortunate whenever  we  have  an  opportunity. 
And  then  I  know  that  I  could  trust  you,  while 
some  of  these  other  boys  are  dishonest  and 
tricky.  Your  father  was  as  honest  a  man  as 
ever  walked  the  earth,  and  a  noble  fellow." 


go  The  Model  Landlord. 

"  Yet  he  died  a  drunkard,  Mr.  Freeland," 
replied  Howard,  coming  to  his  senses  that 
moment. 

The  landlord  started  again,  but  regained 
his  composure  in  a  moment,  an'd  replied  : 

"  Yes,  Paul  drank  too  much.  Poor  fellow  ! 
He  might  have  lived  longer  if  he  had  let 
liquor  alone." 

"If  he  had  never  touched  it  in  the  first 
place,  he  might,"  the  boy  said,  his  face  flush- 
ing half  with  anger. 

"  But  do  you  know  where  my  father  first 
began  to  drink  liquor  ?"  asked  Howard,  look- 
ing at  Mr.  Freeland  steadily. 

There  was  something  in  the  boy's  look  that 
the  landlord  did  not  like,  for  he  dropped  his 
head  while  he  answered  : 

"No,  I  do  not  know  where  he  began  to 
drink." 


TJie  Temptation.  gi 

"  It  was  in  your  bar-room,  Mr.  Freeland  ; 
the  same  place  where  you  wish  me  to  go." 

"  How  do  you  know  this  ?"  inquired  Mr. 
Freeland,  turning  away  from  the  earnest, 
glowing  eyes.  "  Because  he  s^id  so,  sir,  and  he 
said  it  too  when  he  was  dying,"  answered  the 
boy,  and  his  lips  quivered  with  emotion. 

"Indeed,  I  did  not  know  that  your  father 
learned  to  drink  in  my  bar-room,"  said  Mr. 
Freeland,  turning- as  if  to  walk  away. 

"  But  he  did,  though,"  Howard  answered, 
"  and  I  promised  him  just  before  he  died, 
that  I  would  never  even  enter  your  hotel. 
And  I  never  will  as  long  as  I  have  my  senses." 

Mr.  Freeland  was  not  angry,  as  Howard 
thought  he  would  be,  but  instead,  a  half  sor- 
rowful look  came  over  his  face,  as  he  walked 
away. 

Howard  also  passed  along,  with    the  old 


g2  The  Model  Landlord. 

bright  manful  look  resting  upon  his  face. 
The  charm  was  now  completely  broken,  and 
the  tempter  had  been  driven  away, 

That  night  the  long  expected  letter  was 
received  from  Mjs.  Allen's  brother.  It  con- 
tained good  news,  for  the  writer,  Lawrence 
Newman,  had  at  last  found  a  place  in  his 
store  for  Howard.  The  boy  was  to  have  an 
easy  position  with  small  wages,  and  a  portion 
of  the  time  for  study  and-  recreation.  The 
letter  also  contained  a  check  of  a  hundred 
dollars,  for  Mrs.  Allen,  to  use  until  better 
days  should  come. 

"  I  would  advise  you  to  keep  Harry  at 
home,"  the  brother  wrote,  "  until  you  get 
perfectly  well  again.  If  you  need  more 
money  please  let  me  know  it,  and  I  will  as- 
sist you." 

This  letter  lifted  a  great  burden  from  the 


The  Temptation.  pj 

mother's  heart,  and  happiness  again  began  to 
shed  its  light  in  the  little  home. 

"  I  can  trust  my  boy  with  Lawrence,"  Mrs. 
Allen  said,  one  day,  to  Mr.  Weston,  "  for  he  is 
a  good  Christian  man,  with  a  generous  heart." 

"  You  can  trust  Howard  anywhere,  Mrs. 
Allen.  He  is  as  true  as  truth  itself,"  an- 
swered Mr.  Weston,  who  had  in  some  way 
found  out  how  the  boy  had  been  tempted, 
and  how  he  resisted  it. 

"Do  not  borrow  any  trouble  about  him." 
Mr.  Weston  continued.  "  He  will  keep  the 
promise  he  made  to  Paul.  But  you  had  bet- 
ter look  out  for  Harry,  for  perhaps.  Freeland 
will  try  him  next.  You  cannot  just  tell 
where  nor  when  a  rumseller  will  strike." 

"  Do  you  think  that  Mr.  Freeland  would 
intentionally  lead  the  young  astray  ?"  Mrs. 
Allen  asked,  earnestly. 


$4  The  Model  Landlord, 

"  I  do  not  know  his  intentions,  but  I  know 
that  he  has  done  this  very  thing.  Mr.  Free- 
land  is  far  better  than  the  most  of  men  of  his 
profession,  and  yet  I  regard  him  as  a  danger- 
ous man  in  the  community.  If  a  rumseller  can 
be  good,  moral  and  generous,  he  undoubtedly 
is ;  but  I  do  not  think  that  these  good  qual- 
ities can  or  should  cover  up  his  great  evil  of 
selling  liquor,  even  though  it  be  in  the  form 
of  wine,  beer  and  good  brandy.  He  does  harm 
in  the  world,  I  am  sure,  for  I  have  watched 
him  for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  very  proud 
of  the  good  name  which  he  has  gained  in 
keeping  a»model  hotel,  and  is  careful  to  main- 
tain his  reputation.  He  makes  a  great  deal 

of  money  by  the  large  run  of  custom  that  he 
f 
has.     If  he   could  gain  the  money  without 

doing  injury  to  others  he  undoubtedly  would 
be  very  glad,  but  he  is  not  willing  to  give  up 


Tfie   Temptation.  95 

the  bad  business  of  leading  men  astray, 
because  he  gains  money  by  so  doing.  I  have 
not  much  faith  in  the  moral  principles  of  rum- 
sellers,  although  some  claim  that  they  are 
not  really  very  bad,  after  all." 

It  was  very  lonely  in  the  little  cottage 
after  Howard  went  from  home,  yet  it  passed 
away  in  some  degree  as  the  weeks  went  by. 
His  letters  came  often,  and  always  were  full 
of  hopeful,  cheering  words. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

MURDER. 
«   * 

ATE  one  evening  in  autumn,  a  little 
more  than  two  years  after  the  first 

:visit  of  Luke  Lewis  and  Howard 
Payson  to  Bob  Butler's  saloon,  the  startling 
cry  of  MURDER  was  heard  in  the  village  of 

A .  It  was  loud  and  shrill,  and  was  heard 

by  many  an  ear,  although  the  most  of  the 
villagers  had  retired  for  the  night.  It  had 

never  been  heard  in  A before,  and  so,  of 

course,  the  quiet  people  were  very  much 
startled  and  alarmed  at  hearing  such  a  cry. 
Many,  pale  and  excited,  rushed  toward  the 
place  where  the  terrible  cry  was  still  ringing 
out  upon  the  air  of  the  night  ;  and  soon  a 


Murder.  97 

large  crowd  had  gathered  around  the  saloon 
of  Bob  Butler,  for  it  was  there  that  the  alarm 
had  been  given.  A  terrible  sight  met  the 

eyes  of  those  who  stood  about  the  door,  for 

. 

the  landlord,  Bob  Butler,  lay  dead%  upon  the 
floor,  and  two  other  men  were  senseless, 
close  by,  covered  with  wounds  and  blood- 
stains. 

Three  or  four  more,  deeply  intoxicated,  who 
did  not  seem  to  comprehend  what  had  hap- 
pened, were  in  the  room. 

Only  one  sober  man  had  witnessed  the 
affray,  who  had  vainly  tried  to  part  the  com- 
batants, but  rinding  it  impossible,  had  rushed 
to  the  door,  and  given  the  alarm.  Before 
help  arrived  the  death  wound  had  been  given, 
and  the  soul  of  Bob  Butler  went  into  the  pre- 
sence of  God.  The  senseless  men  were  found 
to  be  Luke  Lewis  and  Walter  Payson. 


$8  The  Model  Landlord. 

Walter  had  been  stricken  down  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  fight,  and  so  the  sad  truth  was 
evident  that  Luke  Lewis  was  the  murderer. 
The  officers  of  law  were  soon  at  .hand  to 
arrest  Cuke  and  Walter,  as  soon  as  they 
should  return  to  consciousness.  A  physician 
was  called,  who  found  that  Luke  was  injured 
seriously,  while  Walter  had  received  two 
slight  wounds. 

"  He  is  more  drunk  than  injured,"  said  the 
rough  old  doctor.  "  Pity  that  he  had  not  been 
killed .  too,  for  then  the  world  would  have 
contained  two  villains  less,  instead  of  one." 
And  then  he  turned  to  Luke  to  see  what 
could  be  done  for  him. 

Just  as  they  were  about  to  remove  Luke,  a 
woman  with  a  white,  terrified  face  rushed 
into  the  room. 

"Where  is  Luke — where   is   Luke?"  she 


Murder.  99 

cried,  pushing  her  way  toward  the  wounded 
man. 

"  I  would  not  go  any  farther,  Miss  Lewis," 
said  one,  trying  to  keep  her  from  losing  at 
the  bloody,  ghastly  face. 

"  Don't  detain  me — I  must  see  my  brother," 
she  said,  and  in  a  moment  she  was  kneeling 
by  the  prostrate  form.  "  Oh,  my  poor 
brother,"  she  moaned,  kissing  the  bloody  face 
again  and  again. 

"We  must  remove  him  at  once,"  the  old 
doctor  said,  "he  will  die  if  he  remains  here 
much  longer ;"  and  then  the  sister's  arms 
were  gently  unclasped,  and  the  bloated,  dis- 
figured form  was  borne  away  toward  home. 

•'He  must  remain  there  until  he  is  well 
enough  to  go  to  jail,"  the  doctor  said,  fol- 
lowing the  still  senseless  man  to  the  little  low, 
wooden  building  in  which  he  and  Ellen  lived. 


too  The  Model  Landlord. 

The  wounds  were  all  properly  dressed 
after  Luke  had  returned  to  consciousness, 
and  he  was  made  as  comfortable  as  possible. 
At  first  he  did  not  comprehend  anything 
about  the  terrible  affray,  but  in  a  little  while, 
he  had  a  faint,  indistinct  recollection  of  it. 
He  was  very  weak  from  the  loss  of  blood, 
for  several  deep  wounds  had  been  made  by 
the  murderous  knife  that  Bob  Butler  always 
carried  upon  his  person. 

It  was  very  doubtful  whether  either  Luke 
or  Ellen  Lewis  fairly  comprehended  that  a 
murder  had  been  committed,  and  it  was  well 
for  the  poor  sister  that  she  did  not,  for  her 
cup  of  bitterness  was  already  full  that  night. 
Luke  was  injured  deeply,  and  very  ill,  and 
this  was  enough  to  make  her  forget  every- 
thing else  ;  for  she  still  loved  the  erring  one 
with  a  true  sister's  devotion.  She  did  not 


Mi'.rJcr.  101 

even  see  the  dead  form  oi'  Bob  Butler,  or  the 
drunken  man,  Walter  Payson,  who  were 
both  lying  near  Luke. 

But  Luke  Lewis  was  a  murderer,  for  a 
heavy  blow  from  his  strong  arm  had  sent  a 
human  soul  into  eter/iity,  and  the  cold  dead 
body  was  then  lying  already  dressed  for 
the  grave,  in  the  room  adjoining  the  one 
where  the  fearful  deed  was  done. 

Poor  Luke  was  a  murderer,  and  yet  he  knew 
it  not.  He  was  a  murderer,  and  yet  the 
thought  of  taking  the  life  of  a  human  being 
had  never  entered  his  mind.  He  would  not, 
in  his  sober  moments,  have  harmed  Bob  But- 
ler for  the  world,  but  he  took  his  life,  and  the 
sin-stained  soul  went  into  the  great  future 
life.  Alas,  for  poor  Luke  ! 

As  might  be  expected,  the  great  tide  of 
public  sympathy  was  all  cast  upon  the  side 


102  The  Model  Landlord. 

of  the  murdered  man,  and  though  Luke  "Lewis 
was  far  more  innocent  in  the  sight  of  God, 
than  Bob  Butler,  yet  hardly  any  one  dared  to 
say  a  word  in  his  defence. 

But  there  was  one  who  dared  to  express 
the  truth  in  words,  one  that  public  sentiment 
could  not  hold  in  check,  and  that  one  was 
Henry  Weston. 

"  The  murderer  is  murdered,"  he  said,  after 
going  into  the  room  where  the  deed  was 
committed.  "  If  all  of  these  vampires  who 
fatten  upon  the  life-blood  of  others,  could 
meet  with  a  similar  fate,  then  our  young  men, 
and  the  community  at  large,  would  be  safe. 
But  as  long  as  one  of  them  exists  in  our 
midst,  not  one  of  us  is  safe." 

No  one  ventured  to  reply  to  this,  for  they 
all  knew  Henry  Weston  too  well  for  such  an 
undertaking,  and  as  no  answer  came,  he  went 


Murder. 

on  :  "  Luke  Lewis  is  not  a  murderer  in  the 
true  sense.  He  was  too  noble  once  even  to 
be  compared  with  such  a  man  as  Bob  Butler, 
but  now  you  term  him  a  murderer,  because 
human  bloodhounds  followed  him  until  they 
robbed  him  of  his  honor  and  manhood,  and 
he,  in  a  fit  of  madness,  took  the  life  of  one  of 
these,  whose  business  it  is,  to  murder  body 
and  soul.  I  tell  you,  gentlemen,"  cried  Mr. 
Weston,  in  a  louder  voice,  while  a  strange 
light  glowed  in  his  eyes,  "  I  believe  that 
Luke  Lewis  is  far  less  guilty  than  any  man 
in  this  village,  or  in  the  whole  land,  that  sells 
liquor  in  any  form  to  others.  I  would  rather 
go  into  the  presence  of  God,  the  vilest  crim- 
inal that  ever  lived,  than  a  rumseller  of  any 
position  in  life.  The  innocent  are  generally 
th  >  ones  who  suffer  the  most  by  the  accursed 
ticuTij,  but  in  this  case  the  guilty  has  fallen — 


IO4  The  Model  Landlord. 

— fallen  by  the  works  of  his  own  hands.  If 
he  had  been  in  respectable  business,  he  would 
never  have  met  such  a  fate.  I  tell  you, 
gentlemen,  this  is  a  bad  business  from  begin- 
ning to  end,  and  I  believe  the  curse  of  God 
rests  upon  him  who  tempts  young  men  with 
wine,  beer  and  cider,  as  much  as  upon  one 
who  has  kept  such  a  den  of  iniquity  as  this. 
Our  brothers  are  being  entrapped  every  da-y, 
and  then  rush  to  ruin,  refusing  to  heed  the 
'  handwriting  on  the  wall.'  Poor  Luke  is 
only  one  of  them."  Here  Mr.  Weston  sud- 
denly stopped  and  walked  away. 

Andrew  Freeland,  who  had  mingled  with 
the  crowd,  was  observed  to  become  deadly 
pale  while  Mr.  Weston  was  speaking,  and  in 
a  few  moments  went  hastily  out  of  the  room. 

Ellen  Lewis  could  hardly  be  convinced 
that  her  brother  was  a  murderer,  and  when 


Murder.  105 

at  last  the  truth  became  apparent,  hope  at 
once  was  crushed  out  of  the  loving,  trusting 
soul,  and  a  deep  settled  grief  came  over  the 
one  that  had  watched  so  faithfully  and  ten- 
derly over  the  erring  brother.  For  two 
long  years  had  she  been  conscious  that  Luke 
was  walking  the  downward  path,  but  in  all 
this  time  she  had  never  once  given  up  the 
sustaining  hope  that  he  would  yet  lead  a 
better  life. 

But  faith,  tears,  and  prayers,  did  not  save 
the  -.chained  soul  that  was  struggling  for 
freedom  in  the  cruel  rum-demon's  power,  for 
Luke  occupied  one  of  those  sad  conditions  in 
life  tha-t  seem  many  times  to  be  beyond  the 
reach  of  mercy  and  the  gentle  influences  of 
God's  love.  So  Luke  went  down,  down, 
until  he  becam'e  a  wreck  in  body  and  soul, 
feeling  at  times  the  terrible  life-shame  that 


106  The  Model  Landlord. 

was  resting  upon  him,  but  powerless  to  tear 
himself  away  from  the  viper 'that  made  him 
the  wretched  thing  that  he  was. 

The  sufferings  of  those  long  two  years 
cannot  quite  be  told.  Want  and  poverty 
had  also  taken  up  their  abode  in  the  little 
home,  for  Luke's  strong  arms  no  longer 
kept  the  demon  away,  and  Ellen  was  obliged 
to  bear  the  burden  alone.  It  was  too  heavy 
for  her,  and  her  cheeks  soon  lost  their  rosy 
hues  and  her  eyes  their  brightness.  Two 
years  had  transformed  the  happy  laughing 
girl  into  a  pale,  weary  woman,  but  this  long 
period  of  time  had  not  the  power  to  change 
the  true  sisterly  love  that  glowed  away 
down  in  the  quiet  depths  of  the  soul.  She 
had  clung  to  him  in  spite  of  the  shame  and 
degradation  that  had  eclipsed  the  bright 
sun  of  manhood,  and  robbed  her  idol,  her 


Murder.  107 

much-loved  brother,  of  all  that  makes  life  so 
beautiful. 

Poor  Luke  lingered  for  several  days  upon 
the  borders  of  the  silent  death-land — only 
half  conscious  of  existence  itself,  and  never 
dreaming  of  the  fearful  crime  "he  had  com- 
mitted. His  old  enemy  at  times  beset  him 
with  its  aggravating  power,  and  then  he 
would  feebly  beg  for  something  to  drink,  to 
satisfy  the  burning  appetite  within. 

A  few  who  had  known  of  the  struggles  and 
trials  of  the  sister,  rallied  together,  and  gave 
her  the  assistance  she  needed,  in  caring  for 
the  sick  brother.  Henry  Weston  went  to  the 
little  cottage  of  suffering  every  day,  to  relieve 
as  far  as  possible  the  wants  of  the  sick  man 
and  the  wearied  sister. 

Slowly  Luke  recovered  from  the  effects  of 
that  eventful  night  ;  and  he  appeared  more 


io8  The  Model  Landlord. 

like  a  weary  child  than  a  man.  His  remem- 
brances of  the  past  were  still  vague  and 
fleeting,  and  if,  at  times,  a  glimpse  of  the 
bloody  affray  came  over  his  memory,  it  did 
not  remain  long  enough  to  reveal  the  terrible 
fact  to  him  that  he  was  a  murderer. 

But  the  people  were  thirsty  after  justice, 
and  the  officers  of  the  law  were  impatiently 
waiting  to  take  Luke  into  their  own  hands. 
The  old  doctor  shook  his  head,  and  said  it 
would  not  answer,  but  it  did  not  avail  much, 
for  at  an  early  day  Luke  was  arrested. 

"  But  you  cannot  take  him  away  from 
here,"  said  Mr.  Weston,  in  a  firm  voice.  "  You 
shall  not  take  a  man  in  his  condition  to  jail." 

"  Will  you  become  surety  for  his  appearance 
in  court  ?"  asked  one,  with  a  sneer. 

"  To  be  sure,"  answered  Mr.  Weston,  who 
at  once  assumed  the  position  as  bail  for  Luke. 


Murder.  log 

"  You  have  more  confidence  in  the  fellow 
than  I  have,"  said  one. 

"  There  is  not  a  man  in  town  that  I  would 
trust  any  sooner  than  I  would  Luke,  when 
he  is  not  intoxicated,"  replied  Mr.  Weston. 

"  The  trouble  is  to  catch  him  when  he  is 
not  intoxicated,"  was  the  rejoinder. 

"  He  cannot  get  to  any  of  your  man-traps, 
at  present,  and  the  bloodhounds  will  not 
venture  into  the  presence  of  his  sister  to 
tempt  him,"  Mr.  Weston  only  said. 

"  What  am  1  arrested  for  ?"  asked  Luke,  in 
a  weak  voice,  while  a  startled  look  came 
over  his  white  face. 

"  For  murder,  young  man,"  answered  the 
officer,  who  was  about  to  take  Luke  into- 
custody,  as  Mr.  Weston  interfered. 

"  Who  did  I  murder — I  don't  understand  it,"" 
and  a  piteous  look  came  over  the  pallid  face. 


no  The  Model  Landlord. 

"  You  murdered  Bob  Butler,  in  one  of  your 
drunken  sprees." 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  do  remember  it  all,"  cried  out 
Luke,  who  seemed  to  comprehend  the  whole 
in  a  moment.  "  But  Bob  commenced  it  first 
—  he  tried  to  throw  me  into  the  street, 
and  I  and  Walter  only  meant  to  keep  him 
off.  Yes,  I  killed  him  —  I  remember  it!" 
and  here  Luke  gave  a  loud  shriek  and  fell 
to  the  floor. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
THE  MURDERER'S  DEATH. 

HE  poor  fellow  will  never  suffer 
the  penalty  of  the  law,"  said  the 
old  doctor,  who  had  attended 
Luke  during  his  illness,  to  Mr.  Weston,  a 
few  days  after  the  arrest.  "  I  do  not  think 
that  he  will  live  the  day  out  ;  and  if  he  does 
an  hour,  he  will  have  to  rally  up  a  good  deal 
from  what  he  was  as  I  just  left  him.  It  is 
enough  to  make  one's  heart  ache  to  hear 
the  poor  fellow  talk.  You  had  better  step 
over  there,  Weston,  and  see  if  you  cannot 
comfort  him  in  some  way;"  and  then  the 
doctor  hurried  away  to  visit  another  patient. 
Mr.  Weston  was  a  little  startled  at  the 


112  The  Model  Landlord. 

words  of  the  old  doctor,  for  he  had  thought, 
until  then,  that  Luke  would  recover  irorn  his 
illness.  He  had  not  called  in  to  see  him  for 
two  or  three  days,  as  he  had  been  attending 
to  various  other  duties.  He  hastened  at 
once  to  the  scene  of  suffering,  and  was 
startled  still  more  at  the  sight  which  he  saw. 

Luke  was  evidently  lingering  upon  the 
shore  of  the  dark  river,  if  not  already  stepping 
out  upon  its  icy  waters,  and  Ellen  was  sitting 
near  him,  in  tearless  silence,  clasping  the 
clay-cold  hand.  At  times,  the  dying  man 
seemed  to  be  perfectly  conscious,  and  then 
again  his  mind  was  clouded  with  mists  and 
shadows.  He  recognized  Mr.  Weston  as  he 
stepped  into  the  room,  and  a  faint  smile 
came  over  the  pal^-  face,  but  it  soon  faded 
out,  and  a  sorrowful  look  came  in  its  place. 

"  I  am  a  murderer,  Mr.  Weston — so  do  not 


The  Murderers  Death.          113 

come  near  me  !  Don't  you  know  that  I  struck 
B  )b  Butler  a  blow  which  killed  him  ?  But 
h:  \vas  trying  to  kill  me,  with  the  deadly 
knife  that  he  always  carried,  and  I  got  the 
start  of  him,  that  was  all.  I  did  not  mean  to 
murder  the  man,  but  you  see  I  was  maddened 
with  the  drugged  liquor  that  he  dealt  out  to 
me.  I  paid  him  for  it,  but  something  that  1 
said  did  not  please  him,  as  he  was  almost 
drunk  himself,  and  then  he  tried  to  throw  me 
into  the  street.  We  had  a  terrible  struggle, 
and  he  drew  the  murderous  knife,  and  then 
all  forethought  and  reason  left  me.  So  you 
see  that  I  am  a  murderer,  Mr.  Weston,  and  I 
shall  die  upon  the  gallows.  The  fiends  have 
been  laughing  and  mocking  over  my  mis- 
fortune all  night  ;  and  Bob  Butler  has  danced 
about  my  bed,  for  weeks,  with  his  demon-like 
face,  covered  with  blood  and  wounds,  just  as 


H4  Tke  Model  Landlord. 

it  was  the  last  time  I  saw  him  in  his  own  den. 
Strange  that  he  should  thus  torment  me, 
night  and  day.  There  he  is  now,  at  the  head 
of  a  dozen  fiends,  laughing  in  the  old  tor- 
menting way.  Keep  him  off,  Nell  ! — he  will 

kill  me  with  that  long,  hideous  knife " 

And  then  a  loud  shriek  came  from  the  pale 
lips. 

But  in  a  moment  the  wild,  frightened  look 
passed  away,  and  Luke  was  himself  again. 

"  It  was  dream,  I  guess,"  he  continued,  in 
a  weak  voice.  "  I  thought  Bob  Butler  stood 
before  me.  Oh,  when  will  my  sufferings  be 
ended  ?  Will  death  ever  come  ?  Poor  Nell, 
how  I  have  wronged  you  !  But  it  would 
never  have  been  if  I  had  kept  away  from 
Bob  Butler's.  No,  no,  I  mean  from  Andrew 
Freeland's,  for  it  was  there  that  this  horrible 
appetite  fastened  itself  upon  me.  I  did  not 


The  Murderer  s  Death.          115 

think  there  was  any  danger  in  going  there, 
where  a  drunken  man  was  never  seen.  But  I 
was  mistaken,  for  I  walked  right  into  the 
jaws  of  ruin  when  I  began  to  spend  my  lei- 
sure moments  in  Freelajid's  gilded  trap. 
I  was  caught  body  and  soul  before  I  knew 
it,  and  lost  forever.  Poor  Nell,  I  am  very 
sorry,  for  your  sake.  I  am  not  worthy  of 
your  love,  and  I  hope  that  you  will  forget  me, 
if  possible.  But  I  am  a  murderer,  Nell,  and 
you  cannot  forget  this  sad  fact,  though  you 
should  live  a  thousand  years.  But  there 
comes  Bob  Butler  again  !  It  is  not  a  dream 
this  time,  but  a  terrible  reality.  Satan  him- 
self cannot  appear  any  more  hideous.  Nell, 
Nell,  if  you  were  not  here,  I  would  murder 
him  again,  so  that  he  would  stay  in  the 
lowest  depths  of  perdition  where  he  belongs. 
Stand  back,  fiend,  or  I'll  strike  you  to  the 


n6  The  Model  Landlord. 

earth  again,"  and  here  the  dying  man  raised 
his  cold  white  hand. 

"  It  will  soon  be  over,"  said  Mr.  Weston, 
to  the  pale,  silent  sister,  who  remained  like 
a  statue  by  the  bedside. 

"  The  sooner  the  better,"  was  the  low 
reply. 

Luke  never  spoke  again,  but  passed  away 
very  quietly  in  about  half  an  hour.  Not  a 
tear  was  shed  by  any  who  saw  the  last  strug- 
gle, and  not  a  word  was  said  until  the  spirit 
had  forever  left  the  clayey  tenement. 

"  Thank  God  that  he  is  beyond  the  reach 
of  human  justice  !  God  will  judge  more  mer- 
cifully than  man,"  said  Mr.  Weston. 

So  Luke  Lewis  was  also  laid  away  in  the 
bright,  glowing  years  of  his  early  manhood, 
to  molder  in  the  dust  of  the  valley,  and  rest 
beneath  the  terrible  name — a  murderer. 


The  Murderers  Death.         117 

"  This  is  truly  a  sad  affair,"  said  Mr.  Payne, 
to  his  friend  Weston,  after  Luke  was  buried. 

"  Such  affairs  will  happen,  as  long  as  liquor 
is  dealt  out  to  human  beings.  It  cannot  be 
otherwise  very  well,  for  causes  will  produce 
effects,  you  know,"  replied  Weston. 

"  Yes,  but  I  hope  that  we  shall  never  wit- 
ness another  such  a  scene.  And  I  hardly 
think  we  shall,  now  that  Bob  Butler  is  dead." 

"  He  has  a  son,  however,  that  is  old  enough 
to  keep  the  murderous  machine  in  running 
order,"  said  Mr.  Weston. 

"  But  you  do  not  think  the  son  will  follow 
the  sad  business,  after  all  that  has  transpired, 
Mr.  Weston  ?" 

"  I  cannot  say,"  was  the  answer.  "  Men  do 
not  always  regard  the  results  of  the  traffic  as 
such  terrible  affairs,  because  money  is  gained 
by  the  business.  Money,  you  know,  has  a 


n8  The  Model  Landlord. 

wondrous  power  to  transform  objects  in  this 
world,  and  to  hide  the -rough  edges  that 
would  appear  without  the  magic  covering. 

Others  will  continue  in  the  business,  if 
young  Butler  does  not,  even  after  knowing 
all  these  facts  as  they  have  occurred.  I  pre- 
sume that  Andrew  Freeland  will  never 
have  a  thought  about  giving  up  the  busi- 
ness." 

• 

"Strange      that     you     should     compare 

Andrew  Freeland,  with  such  a  man  as  Bob 
Butler  was.  But  I  might  have  known  it ;" 
and  a  displeased  look  came  over  Mr.  Payne's 
face. 

"  But  why  not  compare  him  with  another 
of  his  own  profession,  Payne  ?  Both 
have  sold  liquor  for  the  same  object — to 
grow  rich — and  Bob  Butler  was  no  more 
deserving  of  the  fate  that  met  him,  than 


The  Murderer's  Death.         ng 

Andrew  Freeland  would  be  of  a  similar  one. 
If  the  same  crime  is  committed  in  different 
ways,  I  cannot  see  why  the  punishment  due 
to  one  is  not  equally  applicable  to  the 
other.  As  I  have  said  before,  Freeland 
begins  the  work,  and  these  other  fellows  fin- 
ish it  up.  In  Luke's  case,  I  think  this  was 
true." 

"  But  do  you  really  think,  Weston,  that 
Andrew  Freeland  is  such  a  base,  degraded 
human  being  as  Bob  Butler  was  ?  Do  you 
think  that  he  would  resort  to  such  things  as 
were  hourly  practiced  at  Butler's  ?  And 
would  he  engage  in  personal  combat  with 
any  human  being  ?"  asked  Mr.  Payne, 
earnestly. 

"No,  I  do  not  think  any  such  thing  of 
Freeland.  He  thinks  too  much  of  his  own 
reputation  to  allow  or  engage  in  any  s.uch 


120  The  Model  Landlord. 

transactions.  He  would  never  allow  such  a 
ruffianly  set  about  him  as  was  always  found 
in  Butler's  saloon.  But  did  he  not  help 
make  these  fellows  ruffians,  when  he  kept 
open  the*  nicely  furnished  bar-room,  to  lure 
them  at  first  from  the  home  circle  ?  Did  he 
not  lead  them  where  temptation  first  threw 
its  deadly  charms  about  them  ?" 

"They  would  undoubtedly  have  passed 
their  time  in  some  other  place  more  dan- 
gerous," answered  Payne.  "And  they  might 
have  gone  to  ruin  far  sooner  by  frequenting 
some  other  place.  Freeland,  I  affirm  again, 
is  not  an  ordinary  rumseller.  He  keeps  a 
first-class,  orderly  hotel,  which  you  will 
admit  is  a  very  necessary  institution.  He 
keeps  only  the  best  kinds  of  liquor,  and  is 
very  careful  how  he  deals  them  out.  He 
does  not  allow  drunkards  nor  drunkenness 


The  Murderer's  Death. 

about  him,  and  it  displeases  him  very  much 
whenever  persons  Use  profane  language,  or 
become  disorderly  in  any  respect.  He  does 
not  allow  his  own  son  to  visit  the  bar-room, 
and  only  last  week  he  dismissed  John  the 
bar-tender,  because  he  was  becoming  intem- 
perate. I  have  boarded  with  him  for  more 
than  two  years,  and  have  never  seen  any- 
thing wrong  about  the  man.  Instead  of 
going  down  hill  in  morals,  and  allowing 
things  to  go  to  ruin  as  many  landlords  do, 
he  grows  more  particular  in  living  a  blame- 
less life,  and  also  in  keeping  the  hotel  in  the 
best  possible  order.  He  has  disposed  of  all 
the  old  furniture  that  has  become  worn  by 
use,  and  obtained  new  for  every,  room  in  the 
house.  He  is  continually  making  improve- 
ments about  the  premises',  and  you  would 
admit  yourself,  should  you  look  them  over, 


122  The  Model  Landlord. 

that  everything  is  in  perfect  order.  I  re- 
gard Andrew  Freeland,  as  a 'model  landlord 
in  all  respects." 

"  And  yet  he  will  lead  scores  of  human 
beings  to  ruin,"  was  the  reply.  "  '  The  devil 
transformed  as  an  angel  of  light/  can  do 
more  injury  in  the  world  than  when  he 
appears  in  his  true  character.  Two  years  is 
not  long  enough  to  test  the  nature  of  a  man 
like  Freeland.  The  model  landlord  may  yet 
reveal  a  character  to  you  that  will  appear  ars 
fiendish  as  Satan  himself.  Wait  until  a  score 
of  years  shall  rest  upon  the  form  of  your 
manly  son,  then  you  may  perhaps  be  able  to 
judge  your  landlord  rightly,  if  you  remain 
with  him  for  this  length  of  time." 

"  Which  I  undoubtedly  shall  do,"  broke  in 
Payne,  in  a  decided  voice.  "  It  is  very  plea- 
sant to  live  in  such  a  home  as  Freeland 


• 
77z<3  Murderers  Death.         123 

makes  for  his  guests.  I  am  far  more  happy 
and  contented  there  than  I  could  be  in  any 
other  place,  since  my  own  dear  wife  was  taken 
from  me.  I  have  no  fears  about  my  own  son, 
as  I  have  said  to  you  before.  If  Andrew 
Freeland  is  suddenly  transformed  into  a 
demon,  I  will  inform  you  ;"  and  saying  this 
Mr.  Payne  turned  away  from  his  friend,  to 
greet  Mr.  Winters,  who  just  then  came  up. 

"  New  forces  have  arrived,"  exclaimed  Mr. 
Payne,  good-naturedly,  in  a  moment  forget- 
ting the  feeling  of  vexation  that  the  words 
of  Henry  Weston  had  caused. 

"  Now  look  out  for  yourself,  friend  Weston, 
for  Mr.  Winters  admires  Freeland  as  a  land- 
lord, as  highly  as  does  your  humble  servant. 
We  shall  annihilate  you  at  once,"  and  Mr. 
Payne  laughed  pleasantly. 

"  You  cannot  annihilate  the  truth,  how- 


The  Model  Landlord. 

ever — that  is  eternal,  and  will  rise  again, 
although  it  may  be  trampled  in  the  dust. 
But  it  is  an  unusual  occurrence  to  see  a 
minister  of  the  Gospel  sustaining  an  evil. 
How  is  this,  Mr.  Winters  ?"  and  there  was  a 
strange  earnestness  in  the  speaker's  voice. 

"  I  trust  that  I  am  not  sustaining  an  evil, 
when  I  respect  such  a  man  as  Andrew  Free- 
land,"  answered  Mr.  Winters.  "If  all  land- 
lords were  like  him  there  would  be  far  less 
sin  in  the  world,  and  we  should  not  witness 
such  a  scene  as  we  have  to-day,  very  often.  If 
Bob  Butler  had  been  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Free- 
land,  poor  Luke  Lewis  would  not  have  met 

the  fate  he  did." 

*. 

"And  if  Freeland  had  been  such  a  man  as 
Butler,  Luke  would  not  .have  been  caught  just 
as  he  was.  Bob  could  not  at  first  entrap 
him,  but  Freeland  could  and  did.  There  is 


The  Murderer's  Death. 


not  much  fascination  about  such  a  den  as 
Butler  kept,  while  there  is  much  to  charm 
our  young  men  within  the  clean,  nicely- 
arranged  gentlemen's  sitting-room  of  Mr. 
Freeland.  Luke  drank  the  fine  ales  and 
wines  that  this  model  landlord  keeps,  and 
then  finished  up  his  career  by  drinking  the 
drugged  liquor  that  Butler  kept." 

"  How  do  you  know  this,  Mr.  Weston  ?" 
asked  the  minister,  earnestly. 

"  By  my  own  sense  of  seeing  ;  and,  besides, 
I  heard  Luke  acknowledge  the  same  with 
his  dying  breath.  You  should  have  been  by 
his  bedside  when  he  died,  Mr.  Winters. 
Perhaps  if  you  had  you  would  have  adopted 
this  text  to-day  :  '  Woe  unto  him  that  putteth 
the  bottle  to  his  neighbor's  lips.'  " 

A  very  sober,  thoughtful  look  came  over 
the  face  of  the  minister  of  God's  truth,  and  he 


126  The  Model  Landlord. 

did  not  reply.  Perhaps  the  truth  was  begin- 
ning to  break  over  him.  Neither  did  George 
Payne  speak,  for  he  too  was  a  little  startled 
to  know  that  Luke  had  attributed  his  death 
to  the  wine  and  ales  he  drank  at  Andrew 
Freeland's. 

"  I  hope  that  you  will  soon  understand 
this  matter  rightly,  Mr.  Winters,"  Weston 
continued,  "  for  we  want  your  assistance  in 
crushing  the  evil  from  our  midst.  The  friends 
of  truth  and  of  Christianity  at  least  should 
be  arrayed  against  the  destroyer  of  our  race. 
We  do  not  want  many  such  convincing  argu- 
ments, as  we  had  to-day,  when  Luke  was 
lowered  into  the  grave,  for  one  is  enough," 
and  then  Mr.  Weston  was  suddenly  called 
away  by  a  friend. 


CHAPTER    IX. 
THE  LANDLORD'S  GIFT. 

HE  death  of  Luke  Lewis  seemed  to 
fully  arouse  Walter  Payson  to  a 
sense  of  his  own  wretched  condition. 
He  was  greatly  alarmed,  and  eagerly  looked 
about  him  for  some  way  of  escape.  He  knew 
the  destroyer  was  upon  his  track,  but  he  did 
not  know  just  how  to  evade  him.  No  wonder 
poor  Walter  was  puzzled  to  know  how  to 
save  himself,  for  he  was  surrounded  upon 
every  hand  by  the  powers  of  darkness,  and 
these  remorseless  fiends  seemed  deter- 
mined to  devour  him.  And  the  greatest  of 
his  mortal  enemies  was  the  fatal  appetite  for 
strong  drink — the  same  demon  that  had  de- 


128  The  Model  Landlord. 

stroyed  so  many  of  his  race.  It  had  been 
his  master  ever  since  the  day  that  he  drank 
his  first  glass  of  wine  at  Andrew  Freeland's. 
And  a  cruel  master  it  had  proved,  for  it  had 
robbed  him  of  manhood — of  principle,  and 
his  hopes  of  heaven.  It  had  clung  to  him 
.with  more  than  mortal  power,  dragging  him 
downward,  and  writing  upon  his  brow  the 
traces  of  shame.  He  did  not  seem  to  under- 
stand his  true  position  until  after  the  murder- 
ous affray  at  Bob  Butler's.  Like  the  jailor 
of  old,  he  could  only  say,  "  What  shall  I  do 
to  be  saved  ?"  and  the  same  answer  came  to 
him  at  last :  "  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved." 

"It  is  my  only  hope  of  salvation,  I  know," 
he  said  to  Mr.  Winters,  who  was  trying  to 
lead  the  wanderer  back  to  his  Father's  house, 
"  and  yet  I  am  afraid  that  even  this  will  not 


The  Landlord's  Gift.          i2g 

save  me.  You  know  nothing  about  this  ter- 
rible, burning  appetite,  Mr.  Winters." 

"  It  is  true  that  I  know  nothing  about  your 
appetite  for  liquor,  but  I  do  know  that  God's 
grace  is  sufficient  for  all  things,  as  His  word 
declares,"  Mr.  Winters  replied.  "Look  to 
Him,  Walter,  and  He  will  save  you.  Start 
again  for  the  '  golden  gate,'  and  keep  away 
from  temptation.  Do  not  once  venture  where 
liquor  exists,  until  you  have  overcome  the 
dreaded  foe." 

"  I  first  began  to  drink  at  Freeland's," 
Walter  said,  "and  it  was  his  fine  liquors  that 
caused  this  cursed  appetite  to  spring  into 
existence.  I  might  have  known  better,  for 
father  warned  me,  and  pointed  out  the 
danger.  But  I  did  not  heed  it,  although  I 
knew  how  many  of  my  kindred  had  gone  to 
ruin.  But  I  will  try  to  overcome,  God  help  me." 


ijo  The  Model  Landlord. 

So  Walter  Payson  tried  to  be  a  man  again 
and  overcome  the  terrible  appetite.  A  hard 
struggle  he  had,  for  weeks  after  Luke  Lewis 
was  buried.  He  was  confined  to  his  bed — 
weak  as  a  child,  and  at  times  moaning  in  deli- 
rium for  something  to  quench  the  appetite 
within.  Every  nerve  and  fibre  of  his  being 
seemed  to  be  unstrung,  and  often  he  would 
weep  in  piteous  accents,  and  pray  to  die. 
The  very  sight  of  a  goblet,  or  even  a  bottle 
containing  medicine,  made  him  almost 
frantic,  and  he  seemed  more  like  a  wild  animal 
bound  with  chains  than  like  a  human  being. 

"Mother,  mother,  I  shall  go  mad  unless  I 
have  something  to  satisfy  this  horrible  appe- 
tite that  is  consuming  me,"  he  said  again  and 
again.  The  poor  mother  could  only  weep 
and  pray  over  the  shattered  bark  that  seemed 
about  to  go  into  the  mad  vortex  of  ruin.' 


The  Landlord's  Gift.  /j>/ 

But  the  good  angel  did  not  leave  the 
struggling,  suffering  one  to  drift  out  upon  the 
tide  of  death,  for  he  was  sustained  by  some 
invisible  power,  and  kept  in  the  narrow  way 
that  leads  to  Life.  Very  slowly  he  re- 
covered from  his  illness,  and  like  a  pale 
shadow,  he  walked  about  the  old  homestead. 
He  dared  not  go  into  the  streets,  for  fear  of 
meeting  some  of  his  old  companions  again, 
nor  did  he  venture  even  in  sight  of  any  of  the 
familiar  haunts  of  sin,  for  he  knew  his  own 
weakness  too  well,  to  place  himself  in  the 
tempter's  way. 

His  wan,  emaciated  face  awakened  the  pity 
of  all  who  chanced  to  behold  the  "  living 
wreck  "  which  he  appeared  to  be,  and  many 
a  kind  word  was  whispered  softly  in  his  ear  ; 
but  while  he  acknowledged  the  kindness  of 
his  friends,  the  same  sorrowful  look  remained 


132  The  Model  Landlord. 

upon  his  face,  that  was  seldom  lit  up  with  a 
smile.  But  as  time  sped  along,  strength  came 
again  to  Walter's  arms,  and  the  dissipated 
look,  in  some  degree  began  to  wear  away. 
Hope  also  came  to  give  peace  to  him,  who 
had  so  long  been  troubled  with  distressing 
fears  that  he  would  fall  again.  An  occasional 
smile  would  sometimes  glow  upon  the  face, 
and  a  hopeful  word  fall  from  the  lips.  Yes, 
Walter  Payson  was  slowly  gaining  ground, 
while  bravely  struggling  for  the  victor's 
crown. 

Two  or  three  times  he  was  assailed  by  • 
outward  foes,  but  quickly  tore  himself  from 
them  and  was  free  at  last  from  their  assaults. 
This  was  a  grand  triumph,  and  he  breathed 
freer  after  this,  and  walked  the  earth  with  a 
•firmer  tread.  But  he  was  still  weak,  and  not 
able  to  appear  as  a  man  among  men  ;  and 


The  Landlord's  Gift. 

yielding  at  last  to  the  conviction  that  he 
must  again  confess  Christ  to  the  world,  in 
order  to  stand,  he  came  humbly  to  the  altar 
of  salvation,  and  was  received  by  the  loving 
father  who  met  the  returning  prodigal,  and 
placed  upon  him  the  "  ring  and  robe,"  forget- 
ting that  he  had  ever  strayed  from  home  out 
upon  the  wilds  of  sin.  The  old  white-haired 
father  spoke  kind,  encouraging  words  to  his 
son — the  faithful  mother  watched  and 
prayed,  and  friends  and  relatives  sought  in 
every  possible  way  to  help  the  young  man 
along  in  the  way  of  right  and  truth.  Even 
Andrew  Freeland  shook  hands  with  Walter, 
and  bade  him  a  friendly  "  God  speed  "  in  the 
better  way. 

"  Look  out  for  yourself,  Payson,"  he  said, 
"  and  don't  get  to  going  down  hill  again." 

"  Then   I   must   not   patronize  your  bar," 


The  Model  Landlord. 

replied  the  young  man,  a  little  bitterly.  "  I 
began  this  bad  business  by  drinking  your 
pure  liquors,  and  if  I  would  keep  clear 
of  danger,  I  must  also  keep  clear  of 
you." 

A  slight  shadow  came  over  the  landlord's 
face,  but  he  answered  very  pleasantly  : 

"  I  would  not  advise  you  to  drink  any- 
thing— not  even  ale  or  wine,  for  they  might 
get  you  into  trouble  again.  I  am  sorry  that 
you  ever  touched  them  at  all,  and  if  I  am  in 
any  way  responsible  for  your  downfall,  I  will 
try  and  atone  for  it,  if  possible.  If  you  will 
keep  perfectly  sober  for  one  year,  I  will  make 
you  a  present  of  as  fine  a  suit  of  clothes  as 
can  be  purchased  in  town.  And  I  will,  more- 
over, promise  you  that  you  shall  never  be 
tempted  to  drink,  should  you  visit  my  bar- 
room again.  Neither  shall  you  have  a  drop 


The  Landlord' 3  Gift. 

of  liquor  if  you  ask  for  it,"  the  landlord  added, 
in  a  louder  voice. 

This  conversation  occurred  in  the  street, 
where  these  two  men  had  chanced  to  meet, 
and  no  one  had  heard  it,  only  Mr.  Winters, 
who  joined  them  in  time  to  hear  Freeland's 
reply  to  the  young  man. 

"  A  suit  of  clothes  is  worth  trying  for,"  the 
minister  said,  smiling  in  a  pleasant  way ; 
"  but  there  are  other  things  that  you  will  gain, 
of  far  greater  value,"  he  added,  more  seriously. 
"  There  is  your  health,  your  good  name, 
your  present  happiness,  and  your  soul,  Walter; 
and  any  of  them  is  worth  a  great  struggle 
upon  your  part." 

"  They  will  cost  me  a  great  struggle,  one 
that  I  am  fearful  will  be  greater  than  I  can 
endure.  Yet  as  I  have  said  before,  I  will  try. 
If  I  gain  the  victory  I  shall  be  the  happiest 


7j<5  The  Model  Landlord. 

being  in  the  world  ;  if  I  fail  I  shall  be  lost 
forever  ;  "  and  as  the  young  man  said  this,  he 
walked  away,  with  hasty  steps. 

"  Poor  fellow,"  said  the  landlord,  in  a  sym- 
pathizing voice,  to  Mr.  Winters. 

"  If  all  would  adopt  your  position,  Mr. 
Freeland,  in  regard  to  not  leading  him  into 
temptation,  he  would  be  safe  enough  ;  but 
they  will  not  do  this,  but  will  entrap  him 
again,  if  possible." 

"  I  do  not  just  see  how  they  can  do  such  a 
cruel  deed,"  answered  Mr.  Freeland.  "  I 
would  not  ask  the  young  man  to  drink 
again  for  the  world  ;  and  if  I  had  known  how 
it  would  have  ended,  I  would  never  have 
given  him  a  drop  of  liquor  in  any  form.  But 
it  is  very  seldom  that  we  find  one  constituted 
like  Walter — one  that  possesses  such  an  appe- 
tite for  liquor.  I  generally  find  that  wine  and 


The  Landlord's  Gift. 

ales  prove  a  barrier  to  drunkenness  ;  but  he 
claims  that  these  light  drinks  only  created  a 
stronger  appetite  for  liquor.  It  is  not  plea- 
sant to  run  the  risk  of  making  men  drunkards, 
yet  I  think  that  if  they  will  drink,  it  is  better 
to  give  them  something  that  will  not  harm 
them,  as  the  drugged,  poisonous  liquors,  usu- 
ally do." 

Mr.  Winters  evidently  approved  of  the 
way  that  the  landlord  adopted  to  suppress 
intemperance  ;  knowing,  however,  the  Bible 
command,  that  we  are  not  "  to  continue  in 
sin  that  grace  may  abound  ;"  and  so  no  word 
of  condemnation  came  from  his  lips.  The 
man  of  God  did  not  breathe  a  word  of  re- 
proof to  him  who  was  daily  leading  souls  in 
the  way  to  ruin,  but  smiled  approvingly  upon 
a  work  that  Satan  rejoiced  over. 

"  Walter  will  yet  be  the  staff  and  comfort 


138  The  Model  Landlord. 

of  my -declining  years,"  the  father  said  again 
and  again,  while  a  tear  or  two  of  happiness 
would  gather  in  his  dim  blue  eyes.  "My 
brothers  died,  it  is  true,  but  my  son  will  live, 
and  be  a  man  in  spite  of  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness which  sought  to  drag  him  to  ruin." 

No  wonder  the  old  man  was  happy  in  be- 
lieving that  the  son  would  sustain  him  while 
tottering  down  the  western  hillside  of  life. 
He  needed  a  strong  arm  to  lean  upon,  for  he 
was  nearing  the  plains  of  immortality,  at  the 
base  of  life's  mountain — poor  in  regard  to 
worldly  riches,  and  divested  of  the  means  to 
provide  for  himself  and  companion. 

So  as  the  first  year  of  Walter's  new  life 
sped  away,  the  old  father  dreamed  on  the 
happy  dream. 

Just  one  year  from  the  day  that  Walter 
had  met  Mr.  Freeland,  he  received  the  suit 


The  Landlord's  Gift. 

of  clothes  that  had  been  promised  to  him,  if 
he  should  remain  sober.  He  had  forgotten 
the  promise,  and  would  never  have  thought 
of  it  again  had  he  not  received  the  large 
package  of  clothing  and  a  polite  note  from 
Mr.  Freeland,  begging  him  to  accept  the 
present.  The  young  man  hardly  knew 
whether  it  would  be  proper  for  him  to  return 
the  package  to  the  landlord  or  not.  The 
clothes  were  an  acceptable  present  to  him, 
for  he  had  had  a  hard  struggle,  even  with 
the  assistance  that  had  been  given  him,  to 
live  from  day  to  day.  He  had  not  been 
able  to  labor,  only  for  a  short  time,  and  then 
he  did  not  receive  a  man's  wages,  as  -he  had 
not  fully  recovered  from  his  two  years'  ca- 
rousal. 

"  Keep  the  clothes,  by  all  means,  Walter," 
said  Mr.  Winters,  who  chanced   to   call   at 


140  The  Model  Landlord. 

Mr.  Payson's  the  day  upon  which  they  were 
received.  "Mr.  Freeland  is  a  kind-hearted 
man,  and  wishes  to  encourage  you  onward 
in  the  path  of  right.  He  has  often  inquired 
after  you,  and  expressed  a  desire  that  you 
would  continue  to  live  a  sober  life.  He  is  a 
better  man  than  many  of  those  who  profess 
to  be  Christians,  so  accept  his  fine  present, 
my  boy,  and  keep  on  living  the  nobler  life." 


CHAPTER    X. 

ANOTHER    VICTIM. 

ND  so   Harry  is   at  work  for   Mr. 


Freeland,"  said    Henry  Weston, 


one  day,  to  Mrs.  Allen. 

The  mother's  face  flushed  deeply,  as  these 
words  came  to  her  ears,  but  a  sad,  pained 
expression  soon  came  over  it. 

"  I  could  not  help  it,"  she  replied,  in  a 
low,  unsteady  voice. 

"  It  is  cruel  as  the  grave,"  Mr.  Weston  con- 
tinued, "  for  Freeland  to  get  the  boy  into  his 
clutches.  It  was  bad  enough  for  him  to  ruin 
Paul  without  trying  his  skill  upon  the  son." 

"But  he  has  not  ruined  Harry  yet,"  Mrs. 
Allen  said,  quickly. 


The  Model  Landlord. 


"  Not  yet,  to  be  sure.  It  takes  some  little 
time  to  torture  one  to  death.  It  is  better  to 
kill  outright.  But  he  has  begun  the  work, 
Mrs.  Allen,  and  it  will  not  take  long  to  finish 
it  upon  such  a  boy  as  Harry.  He  will  not 
last  so  long  as  his  father  did." 

"But  what  can  I  do?"  asked  Mrs.  Allen, 
excitedly. 

"  Get  him  away  from  there,  if  possible." 

"  It  is  not  possible,  I  am  afraid,"  replied 
Mrs.  Allen,  sadly.  "  Harry  is  resolute  and 
headstrong,  and  will  not  listen  to  reason. 
Had  it  been  in  my  power  to  prevent  him 
from  going  to  Mr.  Freeland's  he  never  should 
have  gone.  But  the  truth  is,  he  was  very 
anxious  to  get  the  position,  after  hearing  Mr. 
Payne  express  his  opinion  of  the  landlord, 
and  tell  of  his  kindness  to  all  that  he  em- 
ployed." 


Another  Victim. 

"  And  Freeland  was  just  as  anxious  to  get 
Harry  as  he  was  to  go.  He  always  watches 
for  good  game,  and  your  boy  will  suit  him  • 
exactly.  Harry  is  quick,  handy,  and  intelli- 
gent. And  then  he  wants  a  boy  that  he  can 
lead  about  just  as  he  pleases,  and  make  him 
believe  whatever  he  teaches.  Harry  is  easily, 
led,  as  the  landlord  well  knows." 

"  I  have  been  in  hopes,"  said  Mrs.  Allen, 

"  that  the  charm  would  wear  off  in  a  little 

« 

while,  and  that  he  would  come  home  again. 
But  I  see  no  signs  of  it  yet." 

"  And  you  never  will,  I  am  afrafd.  The 
charm  about  liquor  and  the  place  where  it 
exists  never  wears  off.  The  boy  will  go  to 
ruin  if  he  remains  there." 

"  I  am  afraid  that  it  will  not  be  much  bet- 
ter if  we  succeed  in  getting  him  away.  He 
i?  restless  and  uneasy  at  home,  and  I  think 


The  Model  Landlord. 


that  he  would  not  remain  long  here  at  the 
best.  I  wish  that  Harry  was  as  good  and 
obedient  as  Howard,"  and  here  the  face  of 
the  mother  flushed  painfully  at  the  confession 
that  Harry  was  not  so  kind  and  noble  as  his 
brother. 

"He  will  be  obedient  to  Mr.  Freeland, 
however,"  Mr.  Weston  replied.  "  It  is  strange 
how  much  easier  it  is  to  lead  one  in  the 
wrong  way  than  in  Jthe  right.  But  we  must 
devise  some  way  to  get  Harry  to  return  home 
again." 

"  I  will  go  and  see  Mr.  Freeland  myself," 
said  Mrs.  Allen.  Perhaps  he  will  heed  the 
request  of  a  woman.  I  will  ask  him  to  find 
some  one  else,  and  let  Harry  come  hon.ic 
again." 

"  Perhaps  you  will  succeed,  but  I  doubt  it. 
Mr.  Freeland  will  appear  very  kind  an  I 


Another   Victim. 


gentlemanly  to  your  face,  and  make  all  man- 
ner of  promises,  and  deceive  you  if  pos- 
sible. Don't  believe  all  that  he  says,  Mrs. 
Allen,"  and  saying  this  Mr.  Weston  went 
away. 

True  to  her  word,  Mrs.  Allen  visited  the 
hotel  and  requested  to  see  Mr.  Freeland. 

"  I  called  to  speak  to  you  in  regard  to 
Harry,"  she  said,  after  she  was  seated  in  the 
nicely  furnished  ladies'  sitting-room. 

"All  right,  Mrs.  Allen,"  he  replied,  in  a 
pleasant  voice.  Harry  is  a  fine  boy  —  the  very 
best  that  I  have  ever  employed.  He  is  worth 
a  dozen  like  John  Hall,  the  fellow  that  for- 
merly filled  your  boy's  place." 

Mrs.  Allen  was  conscious  of  a  feeling  of 
pride  coming  over  her  at  these  words,  and 
for  a  moment  she  half  regretted  that  she  had 
come  upon  such  an  errand.  But  remem- 


The  Model  Landlord. 

. 

bering  Mr.  Weston's  advice,  she  finally  man- 
aged to  say  : 

"But  I  would  rather  Harry  would  not  re- 
main here" 

"Why,  my  good  woman?"  inquired  the 
landlord,  in  a  surprised  tone  of  voice. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  he  will  contract  bad 
habits  if  he  remains  here.  He  is  at  just  the 
right  age,  you  know." 

"  There  is  not  the  least  possible  chance  for 
it,  Mrs.  Allen,"  answered  Mr.  Freeland, 
with  an  assuring  smile.  "  Your  son  is  just 
as  safe  here  as  he  would  be  in  the  family  of 
Mr.  Winters  himself.  I  do  not  allow  demor- 
alizing influences  to  exist  here.  The  fast 
young  men  of  our  village  do  not  visit  us,  as 
they  do  not  meet  with  a  very  cordial  wel- 
come. I  allow  no  profanity,  and  in  fact, 
nothing  that  can  injure  the  moral  character 


Another   Victim. 

of  your  son.  Indeed  I  think  that  he  is  as 
safe  as  he  would  be  in  your  own  society." 

"  But  you  sell  liquor,  Mr.  Freeland,"  said 
Mrs.  Allen.  "  There  is  where  the  danger 
lies.  Paul,  you  know,  could  not  let  liquor 
alone" — and  here  a  sigh  came  from  the 
speaker's  lips. 

The  landlord  started  slightly  at  these 
words,  and  for  a  moment  the  pleasant  smile 
departed,  but  before  he  answered  it  returned. 

"  I  do  not  think  that  there  is  any  danger 
in  this  respect,  Mrs.  Allen," he  said.  "Harry 
is  not  constituted  just  as  Paul  was,  and  will 
not  fall  into  temptation  as  readily.  And 
then  my  liquors  are  not  so  dangerous  as  the 
vile  compounds  found  in  the  most  of  hotels. 
I  keep  only  pure  wine,  ale  and  brandy  of  the 
very  best  quality.  I  never  sold  a  drop  of 
drugged  liquor  in  my  life." 


The  Model  Landlord. 

"  But  even  these  kinds  of  liquors  make 
drunkards.  Paul,  you  know  " ' 

"  Don't  borrow  any  trouble  about  your  son, 
my  good  woman,"  Mr.  Freeland  said,  sud- 
denly interrupting  her.  "  I  will  look  after 
the  interests  of  Harry,  and  he  shall  not  have 
anything  to  do  with  the  liquor.  There  is 
enough  for  him  to  do  without  meddling 
with  it.  He  works  under  the  direction  of 
Mrs.  Freeland  a  large  portion  of  the  time, 
and  I  do  not  think  that  she  will  lead  him  into 
temptation.  But  here  he  comes  now,  as 
happy  as  a  king,"  and  Mr.  Freeland  pointed 
through  the  open  window,  where  Harry  could 
be  seen  driving  the  landlord's  gray  ponies. 

Mrs.  Allen  glanced  at  the  manly  form  of 
her  son,  and  noted  th'e  happy,  joyous  expres- 
sion upon  his  face  as  he  reined  up  the  pranc- 
ing ponies  in  front  of  the  door.  He  had  not 


Another   Victim.  149 

been  at  home  since  he  began  his  work  at  Mr. 
Freeland's,  for  he  went  without  his  mother's 
consent,  and  even  when  she  did  not  know 
it.  She  was  generally  considered  to  be  a 
weak,  yielding  woman — one  who  would  sub- 
mit to  a  wrong,  rather  than  to  lift  her  hand 
against  it.  But  as  she  had  suffered  so  deeply 
through  the  ravages  of  intemperance,  she 
had  indeed  tried  to  keep  the  monster  away 
and  save  her  two  boys.  She  had  talked  and 
reasoned  with  Harry  until  she  was  convinced 
that  words  would  avail  nothing,  and  then 
she  gave  up  the  contest,  just  where  she 
should  have  used  parental  authority  in  de- 
manding obedience.  But  she  failed  here,  and 
Harry  went  to  live  with  the  smooth-tongued, 
wily  landlord  who  had  drawn  the  boy  into 
the  gilded  trap. 
Mr.  Freeland  went  out  of  the  room,  to  as- 


TJie  Model  Landlord. 


sist  his  wife  as  she  alighted  from  the  carriage, 
and  Mrs.  Allen  remained  to  speak  with  Harry. 
The  landlord  had  half  convinced  her  that 
Harry  was  not  in  danger,  in  spite  of  the  knowl- 
edge that  her  husband  had  laken  his  first 
steps  toward  ruin  in  the  same  place  where 
her  boy  was  to  remain. 

Harry  sprang  from  the  carriage  and  entered 
the  large  open  hall,  singing  a  little  hymn  that 
he  had  learned  at  home.  The  door  that  led 
into  the  sitting  room  was  open,  and  so  he  saw 
Mrs.  Allen  as  he  came  along.  The  happy 
look  faded  away  in  a  moment  and  the  sing- 
ing ceased,  for  he  evidently  guessed  his 
mother's  errand.  But  yet  he  entered  the 
room  and  reached  out  his  hand,  which  was 

grasped  by  the  indulgent  mother.     He  was 

• 

dressed  in  a  suit  of  new  clothes,  which  Mrs. 
Allen  had  not  observed  before. 


Another   Victim. 

"  Mr.  Freeland  gave  them  to  me,"  he  said, 
in  answer  to  her  inquiring  look,  "  and  he  gives 
me  five  dollars  a  week,  and  it  is  nothing  but 
fun  to  work  here.  Next  Saturday  night  I 
shall  bring  every  cent  of  my  wages  to  you.  I 
have  not  spent  a  cent  yet,  and  Mr.  Freeland 
promised  me  another  suit  of  clothes  at  the 
end  of  the  year,  if  I  would  carry  my  wages  all 
to  you.  He  furnishes  me  with  candies  and 
nuts,  as  he  has  plenty  of  them." 

"  Do  you  have  anything  to  do  with  the 
liquors  ?"  asked  Mrs.  Allen,  in  a  half  eager 
voice. 

"  Nothing  but  to  wash  and  rinse  the  glasses 
occasionally,"  he  replied,  a  little  reluctantly. 

A  shadow  came  over  the  mother's  face,  and 
she  said  : 

'  If  you  did  not  have  this  duty  to  perform, 
I  should  feel  safer." 


1 52  The  Model  Landlord. 

"  Which  he  shall  not,"  said  Mr.  Freeland,  as 
he  came  in  just  in  time  to  hear  the  remark. 

A  look  of  relief  came  over  the  face  of  Mrs. 
Allen,  which  the  quick  eye  of  the  landlord 
saw. 

"  I  assure  you  again,"  he  went  on  in  a 
bolder  voice,  "  that  my  hotel  is  very  different 
from  others  that  are  called  hotels.  I  am  try- 
ing to  begin  a  reform  in  this  direction,  for  to 
tell  the  truth  the  most  of  landlords  are  too 
slack,  and  keep  low  drinking  saloons  instead 
of  orderly  places  of  rest  and  repose  for  travel- 
lers. I  strive  to  keep  a  model  hotel  in  every 
respect,  and  people  generally  think  that  I 
succeed.  Ask  Mr.  Winters  or  Payne,  who  has 
boarded  with  us  for  three  years." 

"  I  am  convinced  that  you  are  not  like  .the 
most  of  landlords,  but  I  was  afiaid  that  my 
son  would  learn  to  drink,  as  his  father  did. 


Another   Victim. 

Paul  did  not  drink  liquor  until" — and  here 
Mrs.  Allen  stopped  as  she  noted  the  unpleas- 
ant look  upon  the  landlord's  face. 

"Don't  borrow  any  trouble  about  the  boy. 
I  will  watch  him  closely,  and  I  repeat  the 
promise  to  you  again,  that  he  shall  not  touch 
the  glasses  again  or  have  anything  to  do  with 
the  liquor." 

Here  the  landlord  was  called  away,  and 
Mrs.  Allen  also  went  out  of  the  pleasant  sit- 
ting-room. A  great  burden  had  been  lifted, 
and  she  breathed  more  freely  as  she  returned 
home.  Alas,  she  too  had  become  charmed 
by  the  glitter  of  the  serpent's  eyes. 


CHAPTER  "XL. 
THE  MINISTER'S  vow. 

HE  blood  of  our  blessed  Jesus," 
said  Mr.  Winters,  in  a  low  thrilling 
voice,  as  he  stooped  to  place  the 
silver  cup  of  wine,  representing  the  blood  of 
the  world's  Redeemer,  to  the  lips  of  Walter 
Payson,  who  knelt  at  the  altar,  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

The  young  man  became  deadly  pale,  and 
trembled  violently,  as  he  took  the  sacred  cup, 
which  would  have  fallen  to  the  floor,  had 
not  Mr.  Winter's  hand  also  been  upon  it.  .He 
made  no  movement  toward  placing  his  white 
lips  upon  the  edge  of  the  silver  cup,  and  so 


The  Minister's   Vow.  155 

Mr.  Winters  continued:  "Drink  this  in  re- 
membrance that  Christ's  blood  was  shed  for 
thee." 

But  yet  he  did  not  taste  of  the  red  wine. 
The  minister  placed  it  closely  to  the  ashen 
lips,  while  he  repeated,  "  May  His  blood  pre- 
serve thy  soul  and  body  unto  everlasting 
life." 

"  This  will  ruin  my  soul  and  body,"  the 
young  man  tried  to  say,  but  the  words  died 
out  upon  his  lips  as  the  cup  was  pressed 
against  them.  He  could  not  resist  .any 
longer,  and  so  he  drank  the  wine,  instead  of 
tasting  it,  as  Mr.  Winters  intended.  The  cup 
was  instantly  taken  from  his  hand  and  passed 
to  the  next,  but  it  was  too  late.  The  life- 
blood  rushed  swiftly  through  the  veins  and 
arteries  of  Walter  Payson,  and  a  mist  was 
before  his  eyes  as  he  rose  to  his  feet.  He 


156  Tfie  Model  Landlord. 

managed  to  go  back  to  his  seat  and  sink  like 
a  wearied  child  upon  it  ;  yet  the  terrible 
spell  was  upon  him  and  he  was  lost.  Every 
eye  was  upon  him,  and  nearly  all  in  the 
church  wondered  what  it  all  meant.  Only 
two  or  three  guessed  the  true  cause,  and  one 
of  these  was  Mr.  Weston,  who  was  almost  as 
pale  and  excited  as  Walter  himself.  Others 
gathered  around  the  altar  to  partake  of  the 
bread  and  wine — emblems  of  the  body  and 
blood  of  the  blessed  Saviour — and  the  sweet 
voice  of  prayer  and  praise  blended  softly  with 
the  scene. 

The  tones  of  the  loud  organ  pealed  out  at 
last,  filling  the  old  church  with  melody,  but. 
poor  Walter  Payson  was  unconscious  of  it 
all,  for  he  neither  saw  nor  heard  aught  of 
the  holy  scene.  The  dark  tide  of  agony  was 
rushing  over  his  soul,  and  he  felt  that  he  was 


7he  Ministers   Vow. 

drifting  out  upon  the  moaning  ocean,  where 
phantom  ships  freighted  with  cruel  demons 
were  all  about,  waiting  to  devour  him.  He 
tried  to  pray,  but  his  thoughts  were  strangely 
confused,  and  he  forgot  the  simple  form  of 
prayer — for  the  awful,  burning  thirst  was 
upon  him — devouring  and  consuming  his  very 
soul.  Hell  itself  could  not  have  been  worse 
than  the  tortures  that  he  endured,  and  in  his 
agony  he  rushed  from  the  church  toward  the 
nearest  drinking  saloon.  It  was  the  very 
place  where  Bob  Butler  was  murdered,  yet 
this  knowledge  did  not  stop  him  or  even 
arrest  his  steps  for  a  moment. 

"Give  me  something  to  drink,  for  I  am 
burning  up  with  thirst,"  he  said  to  the 
startled  bar-tender,  who  was  sitting  near  the 
door,  half-stupefied  with  liquor  himself. 

"  What  did  you  say,  sir  ?"  he  asked,  staring 


158  The  Model  Landlord. 

at  Walter,  and  rubbing  his  eyes  to  know 
whether  he  was  dreaming  or  not. 

"  Liquor,  you  fool !"  the  new  comer  de- 
manded, in  tones  that  the  bar-tender  under- 
stood. 

"  Yes,  yes,  Payson,  all  right — I'll  get  it  in 
a  moment,"  and  the  fellow  started  for  the  bar. 

"  Be  quick,  sir,  or  I'll  help  myself,"  Walter 
said,  in  a  loud  voice. 

In  a  moment  more  he  had  drained  the  glass 
of  liquor  placed  in  his  hand  by  the  willing 
bar-tender,  and  then  there  was  a  stranger, 
wilder  look  than  ever  in  his  eyes.  It  did  not 
satisfy  the  terrible  appetite,  however,  but  in- 
creased it  with  two-fold  power.  He  was  al- 
most frantic  with  the  burning  pain  that  was 
sweeping  over  him. 

"  More,"  he  only  said,  while  he  reached  bis 
hand  eagerly  out  for  another  drink. 


The  Minister's   Vow. 

It  was  like  placing  wood  upon  the  fire,  for 
the  vile  compound  only  increased  his  appetite 
to  a  still  greater  degree.  After  he  had  drank 
two  or  three  glasses  more,  and  sat  down 
upon  the  bench  close  by,  the  door  was  pushed 
open  and  Mr.  Winters  and  Weston  entered. 

"  I  told  you  that  we  should  find  him  here," 
said  Mr.  Weston  to  his  companion. 

The  minister's  face  was  as  white  as  snow 
itself,  as  he  advanced  toward  Walter  and 
grasped  him  by  the  arm. 

"  What -does  it  all  mean,  Walter  ?"  he  said. 
"  Surely  you  have  not  been  drinking  !" 

"  But  I  have,  old  fellow,"  broke  in  the  half 
drunken  man,  laughing  in  a  strange,  unusual 
way.  "  I  have  been  taking  some  prime  '  old 
rye,'  and  if  you  don't  believe  it,  just  take  a 
drink  yourself.  I  say,  Tom,  just  turn  out  the 
minister  a  drink,  and  I'll  make  it  all  right 


160  77ie  Model  Landlord. 

\yith  you.  Ha,  ha,  wont  it  be  fun  to  drink 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Winters  ?  Do  you  hear, 
blockhead,  or  be  you  deaf?" 

"  Come  away,  Walter,"  pleaded  Mr.  Win- 
ters, who  grasped  the  trembling  arm  more 
firmly. 

"  No,  siree  !  Rev.  Mr.  Winters,  you  don't 
do  it.  I'm  not  going  back  to  church,  where 
I  can  only  just  taste  of  your  choice  wine,  that 
you  got  of  Andrew  Freeland.  It  is  too 
choice  for  me,  and  I  shall  not  touch  it  again. 
But  come,  take  a  drink  of  this,  and  then  we 
will  all  go  up  and  hear  you  preach  this  even- 
ing. I  tell  you,  it  is  capital " 

"  Come  Walter — do  not  remain  any  longer. 
Come,  and  I  will  go  home  with  you,"  urged 
Mr.  Winters. 

"  I  shall  not  go  just  yet,  Mr.  Minister.  I 
have  concluded  to  remain  here  a  day  or  two, 


The  Minister's   Vow.  161 

and  when  I  do  go  I  can  go  without  any  of  your 
help.  So  just  trot  along,  if  you  are  not  going 
to  drink.  I  can  drink  it,  if  you  do  not ;"  and 
saying  this  Walter  grasped  the  empty  glass 
which  was  within  reach. 

Again  the  door  was  pushed  open,  and  a 
gray-haired  man  entered,  trembling  with 
emotion. 

"  Walter,  Walter,  come  away,"  he  said,  as 
he  hastened  toward  his  son. 

"  Sha'n't  do  it,  old  man,"  Walter  replied, 
in  a  thick,  maudlin  voice.  "  I've  got  out 
from  under  your  thumb,  and  ain't  going  back 
again.  Just  fill  up  that  glass  again,  Tom." 

"  God  help  me  !"  exclaimed  the  old  man, 
leaning  against  the  bar  for  support,  and  then 
the  tears  ran  down  his  wrinkled  face  like 
rain. 

Mr.  Weston  approached  the  old  man,  and 


162  The  Model  Landlord. 

taking  his  arm,  tried  to  help  him  away  from 
the  unholy  place.  But  the  poor,  unhappy 
father  could  not  stir,  but  remained  upon  the 
seat,  weeping  and  moaning  like  an  infant. 

"Dry  up,  old  man,  and  don't  snivel  like  a 
baby,"  Walter  said,  staggering  toward  his 
father.  But  it  was  doubtful  whether  the  old 
man  heard  these  words,  for  he  seemed  to  be 
unconscious  to  all  things,  save  his  own  bitter 
sorrow. 

"  Walter,  my  son — my  son,"  he  only  said, 
as  the  fierce  storm  swept  over. 

"  This  is  no  place  for  Christian  men,"  Mr. 
Weston  said,  again  trying  to  lift  the  old 
man  to  his  feet.  Mr.  Winters  grasped  the 
other  arm,  and  together  they  bore  him  home. 

"  This  is  terrible  business,"  said  Mr.  Weston, 
as  the'y  walked  away  from  the  home  of 
Walter  Payson. 


Tlte  Minister's   Vow.  i6j 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  minister,  in  a  low 
voice,  and  then  he  added,  "  I  did  not  think 
that  there  was  a  man  in  the  world  constituted 
as  Walter  Payson  is." 

"There  are  thousands  of  them,"  answered 
Mr.  Weston.  "And  I  think  we  ought  to  be 
very  careful  how  we  lead  them  into  tempta- 
tion. It  is  not  safe  to  use  the  hateful  poison 
in  any  way,  not  even  in  remembrance  of  the 
sufferings  of  our  Saviour.  It  is  a  terrible 
mockery  to  use  this  liquid  of  damnation,  to 
represent  the  blood  of  the  world's  Redeemer." 

"  I  never  looked  at  this  matter  in  such  a 
way  before,"  Mr.  Winters  said. 

"  Truth  is  truth,  let  us  view  it  as  we  may," 
was  the  answer. 

"  I  shall  never  use  any  intoxicating  bever- 
age again,  to  represent  the  blood  of  our 
Saviour,"  said  Mr.  Winters,  in  a  slow,  decided 


164.  The  Model  Landlord. 

voice.  "  This  day's  experience  has  proved  to 
me  that  it  is  not  right  to  do  it,  and  I  am 
willing  to  live  up  to  my  convictions  of  right 
and  duty.  I  make  this  vow  voluntarily,  fully 
convinced,  that  I  have  committed  a  great 
error  by  placing  it  to  the  lips  of  Walter  Pay- 
son." 

"I  am  glad  that  you  see  your  duty  in  this 
respect,"  answered  Mr.  .Weston,  "and  I  hope 
that  you  will  understand  the  true  principles 
of  temperance,  in  every  way  as  well.  Total 
abstinence  is  the  only  safe  rule  of  life,  and 
any  one  who  violates  this  one  great  law  of 
God  and  nature,  is  certainly  a  transgressor." 

"  If  I  have  sinned  in  this  respect  it  has  been 
done  through  ignorance,"  acknowledged  Mr. 
Winters.  "  Had  it  not  been  for  this  day's 
lesson,  I  should  undoubtedly  have  believed 
in  the  future,  just  as  I  have  in  the  past." 


The  Minister  s  Vow.  165 

"  Human  beings  are  sometimes  very  slow 
to  receive  the  truth,"  was  the  quiet  answer. 
"  Some  might  have  been  convinced  of  it  in 
regard  to  using  alcohol  in  any  form,  without 
the  sad  lesson  of  to-day.  But  I  hope  that 
you  will  not  wait  to  receive  such  a  lesson, 
before  you  discover  the  evil  that  Andrew 
Freeland — the  model  landlord — is  doing." 

Mr.  Winters  started  as  this  name  came  to 
his  ears,  and  a  deep  flush  came  over  his  face. 

"You  obtained  this  very  wine  which  has 
made  so  much  trouble  to-day,  of  Mr.  Freeland, 
and  it  cannot  be  any  safer  for  him  to  give 
it  to  others  than  for  yourself.  It  is  true  that 
Walter  would  not  have  gone  there  for  wine, 
but  others  will  go  and  be  ruined.  It  was 
Freeland's  wine  that  has  twice  dragged  Wal- 
ter down.  Once  he  took  it  in  the  model 
hotel,  and  once  at  the  communion  altar. 


166  The  Model  Landlord. 

Both  times  it  led  him  into  sin,  and  this 
proves  that  it  is  not  safe  to  give  it  in  any 
way." 

Light  seemed  to  be  breaking  over  the  soul 
of  the  minister  of  God,  and  large  drops  of 
perspiration  stood  upon  his  forehead. 

"  I'll  walk  in  the  light,  as  God  shall  give  it 
to  me,"  he  said,  in  the  same  firm  voice. 
^"  was  the  answer. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

LITTLE    PHIL. 

HAT  is  the  matter  with  little 
Phil?"  asked  Mr.  Freeland,  one 
afternoon,  as  he  entered  the  nice, 
tidy  bed-room  which  was  occupied  by  the 
landlady. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  answered  Mrs.  Freeland, 
in  a  somewhat  anxious  tone.  "  He  has  be- 
haved very  strangely  since  dinner,  and  I  do 
not  know  just  what  to  make  of  it.  First  he 
laughed,  danced  and  sang  in  a  strange,  un- 
usual way,  and  then  he  complained  of  feeling 
sick." 

"Where  has  he  been,   and  what  has  he 


168  The  Model  Landlord. 

been  doing  ?"  asked  the  landlord,  in  an  un- 
steady voice. 

I 

"  He  has  not  been  anywhere, — not  even 
out  of  the  house,  to  my  knowledge.  He  and 
Davie  have  been  playing  together  in  this 
very  room  for  the  last  two  hours." 

"  Where  is  Davie  ?"  asked  Mr.  Freeland, 
again,  in  a  hasty  voice. 

"  He  has  just  gone  to  his  room,  for  hu< 
afternoon  nap,"  was  the  answer. 

"Does  Payne  know  that  Phil  is  sick?" 
again  asked  the  landlord. 

"  No,  he  is  out  somewhere.  We  had  bet- 
ter send  Harry  after  him,"  and  saying  this 
Mrs.  Freeland  started  for  the  door. 

"  No,  no,  don't  send  for  him,  for  heaven's 
sake  !  I  would  not  have  him  see  Phil  in  such 
a  condition  for  the  world.  The  boy  is  drunk, 
Mrs.  Freeland." 


Little  Phil.  169 

The  landlady  started  at  these  words,  and 
then  a  deep  flush  came  over  her  face.  She 
looked  at  her  husband  in  an  inquiring  way, 
only  saying  :  "  Impossible  !" 

"But  it  is  possible,  Mrs.  Freeland,"  he 
said  in  reply,  "and  now  I  shall  find  out  how 
it  happened,"  he  added,  as  he  arose  and  went 
to  a  cupboard  in  the  wall  of  the  room.  He 
opened  the  door  and  saw  one  empty  wine 
bottle,  and  two  about  half  full. 

"  Just  as  I  expected,  Mrs.  Freeland.  The 
boys  have  been  helping '  themselves  to  your 
wine.  I  should  hate  to  have  Payne  find  it  out. 
Keep  the  boy  out  of  sight,  if  possible  ;  and 
then  he  walked  hurriedly  out  of  the  room. 
Just  then  Mr.  Payne  came  in  to  the  large 
hall,  and  inquired  for  his  son. 

"  He  is  somewhere  around  the  house,"  Mr. 
Freeland  replied,  in  an  evasive  voice.  "  No, 


ijo  The  Model  Landlord. 

I  am  mistaken,"  he  added,  as  if  recollecting 
himself.  "  He  and  Davie  have  gone  into  the 
woods  for  nuts.  They  will  be  back  soon, 
however,  I  guess." 

"  I  am  sorry,"  answered  Mr.  Payne,  "  for 
I  wanted  Phil  to  go  with  me.  I  had  planned 
an  excursion  into  the  woods,  but  it  will  be  too 
late  when  the  boys  return,  undoubtedly." 

Mr.  Payne  stepped  along  into  the  sitting- 
room,  and  just  at  that  moment  little  Phil 
called  wildly  out  to  him.  The  strange,  un- 
natural tones  of  the  boy  startled  Mr.  Payne, 
and  he  rushed  toward  the  bed-room 
door. 

"  You  here,  Phil !"  he  exclaimed,  as  he  saw 
his  boy  so  pale  and  lifeless  upon  the  bed 
"But  what  does  it  all  mean?  Are  you  sick, 
Phil'*?" 

The   boy  attempted  to  rise,  but   fell  like 


Little  Phil  777 

a  log  back  upon  his  pillow,  while  the  wide, 
staring  eyes  were  fixed  upon  his  father. 

"  Go  for  the  physician,  Harry,"  Mr.  Payne 
shouted,  in  a  commanding  tone.  The  order 
was  quickly  obeyed,  and  in  a  few  moments 
the  old  doctor  was  bending  over  the  pale- 
faced  boy.  He  made  a  few  inquiries  of  Mrs. 
Freeland,  glanced  again  at  the  patient,  and 
then  took  his  hat  and  medicine  case  as  if  to 
walk  away. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?"  inquired  Mr.  Payne, 
in  a  surprised  way. 

"  I  mean  that  I  am  going  away,"  he  replied, 
indifferently. 

"  But  why  don't  you  do  something  for  my 
son  ?"  the  father  asked,  excitedly. 

"  I  can  do  nothing  for  him,  Mr.  Payne.  Yet 
I  might  as  well  tell  you  the  truth,  your  boy  is 
drunk;"  and  the  rough  old  doctor  walked  away. 


172  The  Model  Landlord. 

' 

. 

"  It  cannot  be, "the  father  groaned.  "  The 
doctor  is  mistaken  ;"  but  suddenly  remem- 
bering how  Mr.  Freeland  had  tried  to  deceive 
him,  he  stopped. 

"  Tell  me,  woman,"  he  said,  turning  to  Mrs. 
Freeland,  "  how  this  happened  ?" 

"I  do  not  know,"  she  said,  trying  to  turn 
away  from  the  half  glaring  eyes  of  the  father. 

"  Yes,  you  do  know.  Don't  try  to  deceive 
me,  for  I  will  know  the  truth  of  the  matter. 
Where  did  he  ger the  liquor  he  drank  ?" 

The  landlady  knew  something  about  the 
determined  disposition  of  Mr.  Payne,  and  she 
saw  in  a  moment  that  it  would  not  do  to  try 
to  deceive  him. 

"  He  must  have  got  it  out  of  the  cupboard 
yonder,"  she  at  last  confessed. 

"  I  did  not  know  that  you  were  in  the  habit 
of  storing  your  liquor  around  the  house  in 


Little  Phil.  173 

such  a  way.  I  supposed  that  you  kept  it  in 
the  liquor-room,  guarded  by  a  lock  and  key. 
I  shall  examine  my  own  room  to  see  if  there 
is  any  secreted  there  ;"  and  here  Mr.  Payne 
stopped. 

"  It  was  some  that  I  kept  here  for  my  own 
use,"  acknowledged  the  landlady,  trying  to 
explain  the  matter  a  little  better. 

"  I  did  not  know  before  that  you  had  any 
particular  use  for  liquor  ;"  and  saying  this, 
Mr.  Payne  took  little  Phil  in  his  strong  arms 
and  bore  him  to  his  own  room. 

The  boy  did  not  awake  until  the  next 
morning,  and  then  he  was  dull  and  spiritless. 
It  was  a  long  time  before  he  could  remem- 
ber anything  about  the  transaction  of  the 
previous  day,  but  at  last  it  all  became  clear 
in  his  memory. 

i 


The  Model  Landlord. 

"  What  made  you  drink  the  wine,  Phil  ?" 
Mr.  Payne  asked. 

"  Davie  gave  it  to  me,"  the  boy  answered, 
a  little  confused. 

"  Did  you  ever  drink  any  before  yesterday?" 
was  the  next  question. 

"  O  yes,  lots  of  times  ;  Mrs.  Freeland  always 
gives  it  to  us  when  we  take  our  lunch  in  her 
room,  with  her.  She  says  that  it  will  not 
hurt  us,  if  we  do  not  take  too  much.  But  I 
guess  that  we  did  drink  too  much  yesterday, 
"for  it  made  me  feel  so  strangely,  and  then 
my  head  ached  badly." 

"What  made  you  get  it  yourself?"  Mr. 
Payne  asked. 

"  Because  Mrs.  Freeland  did  not  give  us 
all  v/e  wanted.  It  was  so  nice  and  sweet — 
and  then  we  did  not  think  that  any  one 
would  know  it." 


Little  Phil.  175 

A  long  talk  followed  this  confession,  and 
much  good  advice  was  given  to  the  little 
tippler.  He  was  forced  to  promise  that  he 
would  never  meddle  with  liquor  again, 
although  he  did  this  very  reluctantly.  His 
acknowledgment  that  he  loved  the  "nice, 
sweet  wine,"  troubled  Mr.  Payne  more  than 
the  knowledge  that  his  son  had  been  intoxi- 
cated. The  smiling  landlord  made  many 
apologies,  and  then  reluctantly  stated,  as  he 
affirmed,  that  the  physician  had  prescribed 
wine  for  Mrs.  Freeland.  He  was  very  sorry 
that  she  had  been  so  indiscreet  as  to  offer  it  to 
the  boys,  but  he  would  talk  with  her  at  once 
in  regard  to  the  matter,  and  such  a  thing 
should  never  happen  again.  Nobody  knew 
anything  about  the  transaction  but  themselves 
and  the  old  doctor,  and  he  would  see  him  at 
once,  and  the  matter  should  be  kept  secret 


ij6  The  Model  Landlord. 

Mr.  Payne  did  not  really  like  the  way  the 
affair  was  to  be  settled,  for  he  hated  decep- 
tion, but  he  did  not  just  see  what  he  should 
do,  if  he  should  go  away  from  Mr.  Freeland's, 
and  so  he  listened  to  the  voice  of  the  temp- 
ter and  concluded  to  remain.  He  did  not 
feel  exactly  satisfied  with  his  decision,  yet 
he  reasoned  that  Phil  was  old  enough  to 
listen  to  reason,  and  that  he  would  watch 
over  him  very  carefully  in  the  future.  And 
then  he  was  sure  that  the  landlord  felt  almost 
as  badly  over  the  affair  as  he  himself,  and 
would  also  guard  against  its  repetition.  Thus 
the  still  voice  that  bade  him  go  away  from 
Mr.  Freeland's  was  quieted,  and  the  man 
dreamed  on.  But  the  awakening  will  comer 
ere  long. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

A  CRUEL  LESSON. 

ALTER  Payson  did  not  go  back  to 
his  father's  house  humbled  and 
penitent,  after  the  events  of  that 
Sabbath  day.  As  reason  again  resumed  its 
power,  after  the  effects  of  the  liquor  wore 
off,  a  strange  despondency  came  over  him, 
and  he  seemed  lost  to  all  emotions  that  were 
pure  and  good.  Mr.  Winters  had  hoped 
that  the  young  man  would  see  his  great 
error — make  a  full  confession  of  his  sin,  and 
return  to  the  ways  of  right  and  sobriety. 
But  he  was  mistaken  in  supposing  that  Wal- 
ter would  do  this,  for  the  poor  victim  of  error 


The  Model  Landlord. 

was  lost  in  the  wilderness  of  hopelessness 
and  despair.  And  then  the  terrible  appetite 
was  upon  him,  binding  him  body  and  soul, 
upon  the  lowlands  of  shame  and  wretch- 
edness. Weak  and  powerless,  he  yielded  to 
be  led  farther  into  the  paths  of  sin,  and  never 
once  lifted  his  weak  arm  against  the  strong 
foe.  Swiftly  he  rushed  along  in  the  way  of 
ruin. 

But  it  was  more  than  the  poor  old  father 
could  bear,  and  from  the  day  that  Walter  fell, 
he  never  appeared  like  himself  again.  Rea- 
son seemed  to  leave  him,  and  like  an  idiot, 
he  wandered  around,  talking  to  himself  in  a 
sad,  plaintive  way. 

Sometimes  he  seemed  to  partially  under- 
stand it  all,  and  then  he  would  pray  to  die. 
His  prayer  was  answered  at  last,  for  suddenly 
one  day,  the  wheels  of  life  stood  still.  He 


A  Cruel  Lesson.  7/p 

was  buried  in  the  village  church-yard,  and 
as  Walter  stood  by  the  open  grave,  he  ap- 
peared as  indifferent  and  unconcerned  as  the 
unfeeling  saloon-keeper  himself,  who  also  was 
near.  There  was  no  expression'  of  sorrow 
upon  the  young  man's  face,  no  look  of  regret 
or  tenderness,  nothing  but  a  vacant  stare, 
which  told  of  the  darkness  within  his  soul. 
He  did  not  seem  to  hear  the  low  sad  moans 
that  came  from  the  lips  of  the  poor  old 
mother,  who  was  trembling  with  grief  and 
emotion.  Indeed  he  appeared  as  devoid  of 
all  feelings  of  sorrow  and  tenderness,  as  the 
rocks  of  the  mountain. 

"  Go  home  with  your  mother,  Walter,"  Mr. 
Winters  whispered  in  the  ears  of  the  son,  as 
they  were  all  preparing  to  leave  the  church- 
yard. But  Walter  did  not  seem  to"hear  these 
words,  for  he  turned  indifferently  away,  and 


180  The  Model  Landlord. 

walked  toward  the  saloon.  Before  night  he 
was  deeply  intoxicated,  and  slept  off  the 
effects  of  the  drugged  liquor  in  the  low  filthy 
place  where  he  drank  it. 

The  weeks  passed  swiftly  along,  bearing 
poor  Walter  still  nearer  the  vortex  of  ruin. 
Around  and  around  upon  the  eddies  of  the 
deep  black  waters  he  was  rushing,  unmindful 
of  all  things  only  to  satisfy  the  burning  thirst 
that  was  consuming  body  and  soul. 

"  Can  he  not  be  saved  in  some  way  ?"  Mr. 
Winters  asked,  half  eagerly,  of  Henry  Wes- 
ton,  one  day. 

"  I  am  afraid  not,"  was  the  sad  reply.  He 
is  very  near  the  end  of  his  race.  But  others 
may  be  kept  from  sharing  a  similar  fate  if  we 
all  go  to  work  for  God  and  humanity.  It  is 
high  time,  1  think,  to  wake  up  and  perform 
our  duty.  Harry  Allen  will  soon  be  drifting 


A  Cruel  Lesson.  181 

among  the  breakers,  unless  something  be 
done  to  save  him." 

The  minister  of  God  started  as  these  words 
came  to  his  ears,  and  then  he  asked,  "  is 
Harry  in  danger  —  has  he  learned  to 
drink  ?" 

"  O  yes,"  was  the  quick  reply  ;  "you  ought 
to  have  known  that  without  asking.  It  could 
not  well  have  been  otherwise.  Have  you 
not  noticed  his  unusual  appearance  of  late  i 
His  flushed  face,  and  the  unnatural  brightness 
of  his  eyes,  tell  the  sad  story.  Yet  he  con- 
fessed it  all  to  me,  only  yesterday,  but  refused 
to  go  away  from  the  tempter's  power.  The 
spell  is  upon  him,  yet  he  thinks  that  he  can 
shake  it  off  at  any  time." 

"  How  did  he  get  into  this  way.  I  thought 
that  Mr.  Freeland  promised  Mrs.  Allen  that 
her  son  should  not  meddle  with  the  liquor?" 


182  The  Model  Landlord. 

and  Mr.  Winter's  voice  was  husky  with  emo- 
tion. 

"  You  cannot  always  depend  upon  the 
promise  of  one  who  sells  liquor  for  his  bread, 
even  if  he  is  a  model  landlord,"  Mr.  Weston 
replied.  "  But  then,  I  do  not  know  just  how 
Harry  learned  to  drink,  yet  he  thought  that 
there  was  no  danger  in  drinking  wine  and 
beer,  as  he  confessed.  I  suppose  that  he  has 
heard  good  men  defend  Mr.  Freeland  in  his 
business." 

A  crimson  flush  came  over  Mr.  Winter's 
face,  and  he  only  said  : 

"  I  wish  that  we  could  save  him." 

"  Perhaps  we  can,"  was  the  answer.  "  I  have 
been  thinking  of  a  new  way  in  which  I  think 
a  vast  amount  of  good  might  be  done.  A 
society  has  been  formed  in  a  neighboring 
town,  founded  upon  the  principles  of  total 


A  Cruel  Lesson. 

abstinence.  I  do  not  know  its  name,  but 
shall  take  pains  to  find  out  more  about  it. 
Its  members  cannot  touch  anything  that  con- 
tains alcohol  —  not  even  new  cider.  I  am 
convinced  that  this  is  the  right  way  to  advo- 
cate temperance,  and  the  only  firm  basis  upon 
which  to  stand.  All  others  are  unsafe,  and 
will  crumble  to  the  earth.  But  we  must 
have  your  aid,  Mr.  Winters,  and  you  must  be- 
gin the  work  by  preaching  a  good  tempe- 
rance sermon." 

"  A  temperance  sermon,"  Mr.  Winters  re- 
peated ;  but  then  he  suddenly  stopped,  for  a 
span  of  horses  was  seen  approaching  at  a 
terrible  speed,  and  the  carriage  attached  to 
them  almost  sailing  through  the  air. 

"  It  is  Freeland's  team,  as  I  live  !"  said  Mr. 
Weston,  "and  there  are  persons  in  the  car- 
riage— a  boy — it  is  little  Phil !" 


184  The  Model  Landlord. 

Just  at  that  moment  the  wheels  of  the  car- 
riage came  in  contact  with  a  stone  by  the 
roadside,  and  the  wagon  bounded  into  the  air, 
striking  the  ground  with  such  force  -that  the 
boy  was  pitched  with  great  force  into  the 
road. 

"  What  does  it  all  mean  ?"  Mr.  Winters 
asked,  as  he  glanced  at  Harry  Allen,  who  was 
in  the  driver's  place  with  the  reins  firmly 
grasped  in  one  hand,  whi  ne  was  applying 
the  whip  with  the  other,  and  urging  the 
frightened  horses  at  a  still  greater  speed. 
"  The  boy  is  mad  !"  he  continued,  and  then  he 
rushed  after  Mr.  Weston  toward  little  Phil, 
who  lay  senseless  in  the  dust. 

"  He  is  drunk,  Mr.  Winters,  and  I  guess 
little  Phil  is  dead,"  said  Weston,  as  he  lifted 
the  body  from  the  dust.  "  It  will  nearly  kill 
Payne,  for  he  fairly  worships  the  boy." 


A  Cruel  Lesson.  185 

This  happened  near  the  home  of  Mr. 
Weston,  who  lived  just  out  of  the  village, 
and  so  little  Phil  was  borne  into  his  house. 
In  a  few  moments  a  dozen  men  or  more,  pale 
and  breathless,  rushed  along  the  road,  in 
quest  of  the  missing  boy.  Mr.  Payne  was 
among  them,  and  soon  stood  moaning  and 
weeping  over  his  mangled  son.  The  old  physi- 
cian was  called,  'vho  carefully  examined  the 
boy.  • ' 

"  He  is  not  dead,"  he  said,  as  he  detected 
a  slight  flutter  about  the  heart.  "But  I 
don't  believe  that  he  can  live,  for  he  has 
been  deeply  injured,  poor  boy." 

Slowly  the  almost  crushed  out  life  re- 
turned to  the  boy.  First,  there  was  no- 
thing but  the  flutter  of  life-blood  about  the 
heart,  and  at  intervals  the  pulse  beat  feebly. 
Then  the  breath  came  in  a  quick,  spasmodic 


i86  The  Model  Landlord. 

way  ;  and  at  last  low,  mournful  groans  were 
heard  like  sounds  far  in  the  distance.  For 
many  long  hours  the  little  life  remaining  in 
the  mangled  body,. would  ebb  almost  away, 
and  then  return  again.  Several  times  the 
watchers  thought  that  the  last  spark  of  life 
had  gone  out  in  darkness,  but  soon  again 
some  little  gleam  would  reveal  itself.  Thus 
the  suffering  one  lingered  for  days  upon  the 
borders  of  death-land — wandering  to  the 
very  verge  of  the  river.  He  suffered  severely, 
moaning  and  crying  nearly  all  of  the  time, 
while  the  agonized  father  bent  tenderly  over 
him.  But,  after  a  while,  the  pain  seemed  to 
partially  leave  him,  and  his  hold  upon  life 
became  a  little  stronger.  Yet  a  strange, 
cruel  truth  became  apparent,  and  that  was 
that  he  would  always  be  a  poor,  helpless 
cripple. 


A  Criiel  Lesson.  187 

A  few  bitter  words  fell  from  the  lips  of 
Mr.  Payne,  who  had  not  learned  to  bear  the 
heavy  burdens  of  life  in  a  Christ-like  way. 
Strange  to  say,  when  little  Phil  was  able  to 
be  moved,  he  was  conveyed  to  the  home  of 
Mr.  Payne's  sister,  which  was  henceforth  to 
be  his  abiding  place.  The  father  went  also 
to  watch  over  the  helpless,  deformed  child. 
The  second  cruel  lesson  that  this  man  re- 
ceived opened  his  long-blinded  eyes. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE  MASK  THROWN  OFF. 

SHORT  time  after  Mr.  Payne  re- 
moved to  his  sister's  house,  a  strange 
affair  transpired  in  the  hotel  of  Mr. 
Freeland.  It  was  termed  by  the  village 
paper,  a  "  Stabbing  Affray,"  and  then  followed 
a  brief  account  of  it  all.  The  "  affray  "  was 
enacted  by  two  "  gentlemen  boarders,"  who 
had  for  some  time  been  at  Mr.  Freeland's. 
Nothing  was  known  about  the  character 
of  these  two  men,  but  as  they  dressed  finely, 
and  displayed  occasionally  well-filled  wallets, 
they  were  regarded  as  gentlemen  of  the  high- 
est type,  as  they  claimed  to  be.  It  was  not 
known  just  how  this  "affray"  began,  but 


Ike  Mask  Thrown  Off.         189 

everybody  knew  how  it  ended.     As  the  cry 
for  "  help,"  was  heard,  a  couple  of  policemen 
soon  came  and   arrested   both   parties,    and 
placed  them  in  the  "  lock  up."      A   pack   of 
cards  were  found   scattered   over   the   floor, 
and  a  pile  of  money  upon  the  table,  and  then 
a  few  bottles  of  wine  stood  close  by,   which 
had  been  the  active  principle  of  the  "affray." 
This  happened  up  in  one  of  the  back  cham- 
bers of  the  hotel,  which  was  guarded  by  a 
strong  lock  and  key.     One  of  these  "  gentle- 
men,"  had   received  a  slight  wound  which 
caused  him   to   cry   wildly  out  for   "help." 
The    other   escaped   uninjured,    save    a  few 
rough  knocks  that  the  policemen  gave  him. 
The  "  affair"  did  not  prove  to  be  a  very  serious 
one,  after  all,  save  in  one  respect.    That  was, 
that  it  ruined  the  reputation  of  Mr.  Freeland, 
and  people  no  longer  called  him  the  "  model 


igo  The  Model  Landlord. 

landlord."  It  brought  to  light  the  fact,  that 
gambling  had  been  allowed  and  carried  on 
upon  quite  a  large  scale.  This  was  a  very 
black  stain  upon  the  reputation  of  the  man 
who  had  stood  so  high  in  the  estimation  of 
the  people.  And  then  the  sad  affair,  when 
little  Phil  Payne  was  injured  so  severely,  did 
not  help  the  matter  any.  It  was  known  by 
all  that  Harry  Allen  had  drank  nothing  but 
the  pure  wine,  that  had  been  extolled  so 
highly,  when  poor  little  Phil  came  so  near 
being  killed.  People  began  to  be  very  sus- 
picious of  Mr.  Freeland,  and  watched  closely 
for  new  developments.  The  most  respecta- 
ble portion  of  community  began  to  shun  him, 
but  the  low  drinking  class  commenced  at 
once  to  visit  him,  in  his  fine  bar-room. 

And  how  did  tfye  proud-spirited  landlord 
bear  up  under  this  ?     Did  he  also  become  con- 


TJie  Mask   Thrown   Off. 

vinced  of  his  great  sin  and  repent  ?  No,  HE 
only  threw  off  his  mask,  and  went  on 
with  his  sad  business.  He  had  succeeded  well 
under  the  disguise,  and  he  undoubtedly  would 
succeed  equally  as  well  without  it,  in  a  finan- 
cial point  of  view.  Of  course,  it  was  much 
more  pleasant  to  carry  on  the  traffic  in  good 
style,  and  have  the  approval  of  society  at 
large,  but  if  this  could  not  be  done,  he  must 
choose  the  other  way. 

It  was  a  hard  matter  for  him  to  haul  down 
his  false  colors  and  work  in  his  true  cha- 
racter. He  struggled  hard  against  fate,  but 
was  obliged  to  yield  at  last.  Circumstances 
beyond  his  control  had  conspired  against  him, 
and  he  could  only  curse  his  ill-luck,  as  he 
termed  it  all.  It  sounded  very  strangely  to 
hear  Mr.  Andrew  Freeland  "  swear,"  which 
he  did  very  earnestly,  after  George  Payne 


192  TTie  Model  Landlord. 

went  away,  f  declaring  his  intention  to  fight 
against  intemperance.  And  when  Mr.  Win- 
ters preached  the  temperance  sermon,  and 
with  tears  streaming  down  his  face,  made  a 
public  confession  of  his  error,  the  landlord's 
wrath  knew  no  bounds,  and  he  declared,  in 
a  loud  angry  voice,  that  he  w6uld  be  re- 
venged in  some  way. 

Then  a  strange,  hateful  look  came  over  his 
face,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  it  was  known 
throughout  the  village  that  all  kinds  of  liquor 
would  be  sold  by  the  "  model  landlord,"  and 
that  all  classes  were  invited  to  visit  his  hotel. 
Everybody  was  surprised  at  this,  save  Mr. 
Weston,who  only  said,  "just  as  I  expected." 

"  The  time  has  fully  come  when  we  must 
strike  a  telling  blow  for  temperance.  Public 
sentiment  has  changed  within  the  last  six 
months,  and  our  way  is  now  open,"  Mr.  Wes- 


The  Mask  Thrown  Off. 

ton  said  to  the  now  fully  aroused  minister  of 
the  gospel. 

"  Yes,  we  will  go  to  work  in  right  good 
earnest,"  Mr.  Winters  replied. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

THE  BLOW  AND  ITS  RESULTS. 

HE  poor  old  mother  of  Walter  Pay- 
son  was  dying.  Some  called  her 
disease  "  old  age,"  others  a  broken 
heart.  It  seemed  rather  strange  that  one  so 
near  the  end  of  life's  journey  should  die  of  a 
broken  heart,  yet  it  was  true  that  grief  had 
much  to  do  with  the  old  woman's  death. 
She  had  borne  bravely  up  under  the  burdens 
of  other  years,  but  then  hope  shone  upon  her 
pathway  and  she  loved  and  clung  to  her  idols. 
But  the  toils  of  years  had  not  weighed  her 
down  in  the  dust  of  bitterness,  as  had  the 
one  great  grief  of  her  life — Walter's  down- 
fall. After  the  husband's  strong  arm  had 


The  Blow  and  Us  Results. 

forever  gone,  she  seemed  more  deeply  still  to 
comprehend  her  sad  position  in  the  world. 
Like  the  shattered  boat,  after  mast  and 
compass  were  gone,  she  drifted  out  upon  the 
shoals  of  despair. 

"  Walter,  my  son,  come  nearer,"  she  feebly 
said,  as  her  dim  eyes  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
other  land.  "  Come  nearer,  my  son,  to  re- 
ceive my  parting  blessing." 

He — the  erring  son,  went  with  a  slow,  halt- 
ing step  toward  the  low  couch. 

"Walter,  my  son, xthe  angel  of  mercy 
stands  by  you  to  lead  you  back  to  the  fold  of 
the  Good  Shepherd,  if  you  will  only  reach 
out  your  hand;  Will  you  do  this,  my  son  ?" 

The  wasted  form  of  the  "prodigal  son' 
trembled  slightly,  and  a  half  eager  look  came 
over  the  pale  face.  But  it  vanished  in  a 
moment,  and  he  said,  in  a  husky  voice  : 


ig6  The  Model  Landlord,. 

"  No,  mother,  I  am  lost  forever." 
But  the  dying  woman  continued  : 
"  The  angel  of  mercy  waits  to  lead  you — 
the  Father  will  meet  you  upon  the  way — the 
door  is  wide  open.  Go,  my  son — reach  out 
your  hand — -tiust,  believe,  and  the  appetite 
that  is  consuming  you  shall  be  taken  away. 
Go,  my  son,"  she  went  on,  speaking  very 
earnestly,  "  and  all  will  be  well."  Saying 
this,  the  old  mother's  life  work  was  forever 
over,  and  the  spirit  went  up  to  the  angel 
land. 

"Walter,  we  will  help  you,"  said  Mr. 
Winters,  who  had  witnessed  the  scene. 
"  Promise  me  by  the  side  of  the  white,  calm 
face,  that  you  will  again  seek  to  enter  the 
fold." 

Perhaps  the  good  mother's  spirit  lingered 
by  the  erring  one,  before  going  up  to  the 


The  Blow  and  Us  Results. 


"white-robed  company,"  or  possibly  there 
might  have  been  scores  of  angels  whispering 
in  the  young  man's  ears.  There  must  have 
been,  for  he  said,  "  I  promise,"  and  then  he 
fell  upon  his  knees,  and  wept  like  a  child. 

The  old  mother  was  laid  -  away  in  the 
valley's  dust,  and  her  son  again  sought  to 
live  the  better  life.  The  "  grace  of  God  wasi 
sufficient  for  him,"  for  he  conquered.  A  tem- 
perance brotherhood  had  been  formed  in  the 
village,  sustained  by  such  men  as  Henry 
Weston,  George  Payne,  and  Mr.  Winters. 
Walter  joined  it  and  was  saved. 

"  We  must  get  Harry  Allen  into  our  ranks 
in  some  way,"  Mr.  Weston  said  to  his  friend 
Payne. 

"  If  we  could  only  get  him  away  from 
Freeland,  we  might  succeed,"  was  the 
answer. 


The  Model  Landlord. 

"  We  can  get  him  away,  I  think.  But  we 
must  first  convince  him  that  he  is  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  landlord,  who  has  threatened 
him  some  terrible  punishment  if  he  goes 
away.  The  boy,  in  some  degree,  has  seemed 
to  realize  his  true  position  since  little  Phil 
was  injured  so  badly.  But  he  dare  not  seek 
to  go  out  of  the  lion's  cage,  for  fear  the 
beast  will  spring  up  and  devour  him.  I  shall 
watch  for  an  opportunity  to  undeceive  him." 

"  God  help  you,"  Mr.  Payne  replied. 

A  fine  opportunity  soon  presented  itself, 
which  was  improved  by  Mr.  Weston.  Howard 
Allen  came  home  for  a  visit,  and  as  he  could 
not  go  into  Mr.  Freeland's  hotel,  Harry  was 
obliged  to  return  home  for  a  few  days.  Mr. 
Weston  made  several  visits  to  the  little 
cottage  during  this  time,  and  sought  to  lead 
poor  Harry  out  of  the  lion's  cage. 


The  Blow  and  its  Results. 

It  was  a  long  time  before  he  could  con- 
vince  the  boy  just  how  matters  stood,  and 
when  at  last  he  succeeded,  the  poor  deluded 
victim  yielded  gladly  to  be  led  by  the  hand 
of  his  true  friend.     It  was  the  mission  of  the 
temperance  brotherhood  to  "save  the  fallen, 
and  to  keep  others  from  falling."     This  was 
just    the    help  that  the  weak   boy   needed, 
and  it  saved  him.     He  was  accompanied  by 
Mr.  Weston,  when  he  went  to  Andrew  Free- 
land's  for  his  clothes  and  a  hundred  dollars 
of  back   pay.     The  landlord  refused  to  pay 
him,  or  even  give  up  the  boy's  clothing.     But 
a  polite  note  from  the  village  lawyer  made 
him  change  his  mind. 

"  I'll  pay  off  Henry  Weston  and  the  rest  of 
these  temperance  fools,"  he  muttered  to  the 
man  who  carried  the  money  to  Harry  Allen. 

Perhaps  he  did  pay  them  in  the  devil's  own 


20O  The  Model  Landlord. 

way,  but  he  was  obliged  to  exhibit  the 
"cloven  foot"  at  every  step. 

The  "model  landlord  "  was  never  more 
known  in  the  busy  village,  but  Andrew  Free- 
land  still  existed  there,  performing  the  vile 
work  of  Satan. 

The  mystic  brotherhood  of  temperance 
grew  to  gigantic  proportions.  It  became  a 
power  for  good  in  subduing  intemperance, 
and  leading  its  votaries  up  to  a  better  life. 
It  led  many  into  the  fold,  where  the  tempter 
dared  not  enter.  It  "plucked  many  a  brand 
from  the  burning,"  and  kept  others  from 
walking  in  the  ways  of  ruin.  After  two  years 
of  labor  it  snatched  the  implements  of  death 
from  the  hands  of  Andrew  Freeland,  and 
he  was  obliged  to  seek  another  place"  in 
which  to  drag  souls  to  -ruin.  It  planted  the 
germs  of  truth  in  many  a  soul,  while  it  held 


The  Blow  and  its  Results.      201 

error  and  delusion  in  check.  Under  tir^ 
grand  motto  of  "  Faith,  Hope  and  Chanty," 
it  still  exists,  upheld  and  sustained  by  God's . 
own  strong  hand.  Its  leaders  struck  a  sure 
death-blow  to  the  enemy's  heart  when  they 
built  upon  this  rock  of  Total  Abstinence, 
and  the  blessed  results  forever  will  remain. 


PUBLICATION  HOUSE. 


HON.  \VM.  E.  DODGE, 
Pmident. 


T.   T.   SHEEFIELD, 

Treasurer. 


J.  N.  STEARNS, 
Car.  Sec.  and  Pub.  Agt. 


THE  NATIONAL  TEMPERANCE  SOCIETY,  organized  in  1866  for  the  purpose  of  supplying 
a  sound  and  able  temperance  literature,  have  already  stereotyped  anil  published  over 
four  hundred  and  fifty  publications  of  all  sorts  and  sizes,  from  the  one-page  tract  up  to 
the  bound  volume  of  500  pages.  This  list  comprises  books,  tracts,  and  pamphlets,  con- 
taining essays,  stories,  sermons,  arguments,  statistics,  history,  etc.,  upon  every  phase 
of  the  question.  Special  attention  has  been  given  to  the  department  for 

SUNDAY-SCHOOL  LIBRARIES. 

Seventy-one  volumes  have  already  been  issued,  written  by  some  of  the  best  authors 
in   the  land.     These  have  been  carefully  examined  and  approved  by  the   Publication 
Committee  of  the  Society,  representing  the  various  religious  denominations  and  tempe- 
rance organizations  of  the  country,  which  consists  of  the  following  members : 
PETER  CARTER,  REV.  HALSEY  MOORE,       REV.  J.  B.  DUNN, 

REV.  ALFRED  TAYLOR,      JAMES  BLACK,  REV.  R.  S.  MACARTHUR, 

T.  A.  BROUWER,  REV.  A.  G.  LAWSON,  R.  R.  SINCLAIR, 

J.  N.  STEARNS,  A.  A.  ROBBINS,  REV.  WM.  HOWELL  TAYLOR. 

These  volumes  have  been  cordially  commended  by  leading  clergymen  of  all  denomi- 
nations, and  by  various  National  and  State  bodies  all  over  the  land.  The  following  is 
the  list,  which  can  be  procured  through  the  regular  Sunday-School  trade,  or  by  sending 
direct  to  the  rooms  of  the  Society. 


At  Lion's  Mouth.     i2mo,  410 

pages.     By  Miss  Mary  Dwinell  rhellis. 

81  25 
Adopted.     i8mo,  236  pp.      By 

Mrs.  E.  J.   Richmond,         -        -        6O 

Andrew  Douglass.  i8mo,  232 

pages,      -        -        -                                75 

Aunt  Dinah's  Pledge.  121710, 

318    pages.       By    Miss     Mary    Dwinell 
Chelfis,        1  25 

Alice    Grant  ;    or,   Faith    and 

Temperance.    lamo,  352  pages.   By  Mrs. 
E.  J  .  Richmond,        -        -        -        1   25 

All   for  Money.      i2mo,    340 

pages.     My  Miss  Mary  Dwineil  Chellis, 

$1  25 
Barford    Mills.        i2mo,    246 

.    .     By  Miss  M.  E.  \V::islow,  1  00 

Best  Fellow  in  the  World, 

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Mi  Xair  Wright,        -        -                 125 

Broken   Rock,  The.     iSmo, 

139  pages.     By  Kruna,  -        -        -        5O 

Brook,  and  the  Tide  Turn- 

he,     izmo,  220  pages,              1   ()() 

The  National  Temperance  Society's  Books. 


Come  Home,  Mother.  i8mo, 

143  pp.  By  Nelsie  Brook.  Illus-rated 
with  six  choice  engravings,  -  !§O  50 

Drinking  Foimtsii*  Stories, 

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336  pp.     By  Margaret  E.  Wilmer,  1  25 

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9O 
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By  Ervie, 85 

Esther  Maxwell's  Mistake. 

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rant.    I2mo,  267  pp.     By  Mary  Grah  im, 
1  00 

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220  pp.    By  Mrs.  E.  J.  Richmond,      60 

Fire   Fighters,   The.     T2mo, 

294  pp.     By  Mrs.  J.  E.  McConaughy, 

1  25 

Fred's  Hard  Fight.     12010, 

334  pp.     By  Miss  Marion  Howard, 

1  25 
Frank    Spencer's   Rule    of 

Life.  i8mo,  180  pp.  By  John  W.  Kir- 
ton,  ...-:.  50 

Frank    Old  field;    or,    Lost 

and  Found.     12010,408  pp.,     -      1  50 

Gertie's       Sacrifice ;        or, 

Glimpses  at  Two  Lives.  i8mo,  189  pp. 
By  Mrs.  F.  D.  Gage,  -  -  -  50 

Glass  Cable,  The.    i2mo,  288 

pp.    By  Margaret  E.  Wilmer,    -    1  25 

Hard   Master,  The.      i8mo, 

278pp.    By  Mrs.  J.  E.  McConaughy, 

85 
Barker  Family,  The.  i2mo, 

336  pp.     By  Emily  Thompson,    -    1  25 

History    of  a    Threepenny 

Bit.     i3mo,  216  pp.,      -       -       -        y5 

History  of  Two  Lives,  The. 

By  Mrs.  Lucy  E.  Sandford.  i8mo,  132 
pp.  A  tale  of  actual  fact,  with  an  intro- 
«»uction  by  Rev.  S.  J.  Prime,  D  D.,  50 


Hopedale      Tavern,      and 

What   t  Wrought.     I2mo,  252  pp.     By  T. 
Wm.  Van  Namee,    -  -     $1  00 

Hole  in  the  Bag,  and  Other 

Stores,    The.      By    Mrs.  J.    P.  Ballard. 
I2mo, 1  OO 

How     Cor.ld     he     Escape  ? 

I2mo,    324   up.        By    Mrs.    j.    McNair 
Wright,  --.-  -         1  25 

Humpy   Dumpy.     12010,  316 

pp.    By  Rev.  J.J.Dana,        -        1  25 

Jewelled      Serpent,      The. 

I2mo,  271  pp.     By  Mrs.  E.  J .  Richmond, 

1  OO 
John     Bentley's    Mistake. 

i8mo,  177  pp.     By  Mrs.  M.  A.  Holt,  5O 

Job  Tufton's   Rest.     12010, 

332  PP-, 1  25 

Jug-or-Not.      12010,'  346   pp. 

By  Mrs.  J.  McNair  Wright,    -        125 

Life  Cruise  of  Captain  Bess 

Adams,  The.     I2ino,  413  pp.     By  Mrs.  I. 
McNair  Wright,  -         1  50 

Little  Girl  in  Black.     12010, 

212  pp.     By  Margaret  E.  Wilmer,       90 

McAllisters,  The.     i8mo,  211 

pp.     By  Mrs.  E.J.Richmond,     -         50 

Model  Landlord,  The.  18010, 

202pp.     By  Mrs.  M.  A.  Holt,      -        tiO 

More    Excellent    Way,   A, 

and  Other  Stories.      l!y  M.  E.  Winslow. 
I2mo,  217  pages,        -        -  1  00 

Mr.   Mackenzie's    Answer. 

I2ino,  352  pp.     J!y  Faye  Huntington, 

1  25 

National  Temperance  Ora- 
tor, The.  I2mo,  288  pp.  By  Miss  L. 
Penney,  -  :  1  OO 

Nettie  Loring.    12010,  352  pp. 

By  Mrs.  Geo.  S.  Downs,  1  25 

Norman  Brill's  Life  Work. 

By  Abby  Eldridge.     I2ino,  218  pp., 

1  OO 
Nothing  to  Drink.    12010,  400 

pp.     By  Mrs.  J.  McNair  Wright,  1  50 


The  National  Temperance  Society's  Books. 


Old  Brown  Pitcher,  The. 

I2mo,  222 pp.     By  the  author  of  "Susif's 
Six  Birthdays,"-  -        -    $1   00 

Old  Times.     i2mo,  351  pp.    By 

M.  D.  Chellis,         -        -        1  25 

Out  of  the  Fire,     izmo,  420 

pp.    By  Miss  Mao'  Dwinell  Chellis, 

Our    Parish.      i8mo,  252    pp. 

By  Mrs.  Emily  Pearson,       -        -        75 

Pack  inut  on  Parish,  and  the 

Divers   Daughter.    12010,   327    pp.     By 
M.  A.  Paull,      -  1  25 

Paul  Brewster  &   Sou.     By 

Helen  A.  Chapman.    I2mo,  238  pp., 

1  OO 

Philip    Eckert's    Straggles 

and   Triumphs.     i8mo,  216  pp.    By  the 
author  of"  Margaret  Clair,"         -        60 

Pitcher     of     Cool    Water, 

The.    i8mo,  180  pp.    By  T.  S.  Arthur. 
5O 

Rachel  Noble's  Experi- 
ence. i8mo,  325  pp.  By  Bruce  Ed- 
wards,   90 

Red  Bridge,  The.     i8mo,  321 

pp.     By  T.udce  Talman,      -        -        90 

Roy's  Search;  or,  Lost  in 

the  Cars.      121110,  364  pp.       By  Hi 
1'earson,     -----         1  23 

Rev.  Dr.    Willoughby  and 

li  s    Wine.       I2mo,   458    pp.       By    Mrs. 
Mar)'  Spring  Walker,       -        -        1  50 


Seymours,  The.      i2mo,   231 

pp      ByMissL.  Bates,   -  1  OO 

Silver  Castle.     By  Margaret  E. 

Wilmer.     12010,  340  pages,      -        1  23 

Temperance  Doctor,  The. 

I2mo,  370  pp.     By  Miss   Man'   Dwinell 
ChelHsf  -        -        1  23 

Temperance  Speaker,  The, 

ByJ.  X.  Stearns,  -  75 

Temperance        Anecdotes. 

I2mo,  288  pp.,    ---        -         1  00 

Tom    Blinn's    Temperance 

Society,  and  Other  Stones.   i2mo,  316  pp 

1  25 
Time  Will  Tell.     i2mo,  307 

pp.     By  Mrs.  Wilson,      -  1  OO 

Tim's  Troubles.     121110,  350 

pp.     By  M.  A.  1'aull,        -  1  50 

Vow  at  the  Bars.     i8mo,  108 
PP., 4« 

Wealth    and  Wine.      i2mo, 

320  pp.     By  Miss  Mary  Dwinell  Chelhs, 

1  25 
White  Rose,  The.     By  Mary 

J.  Hedge-..     12010,  320  pp.,      -        1  25 

Work   and   Reward.     i8mo, 

183  H>.      lly  ''Irs    M.  A.  Holt.      -         50 

Zoa  Rodman.     12010,  262  pp. 

By  Mrs.  E.  J.  Richmond,        -        1  OO 


The  National  Temperance  Society's 


MISCELLANEOUS  PUBLICATIONS. 


Alcohol  :     Its    Place    and 

Tower.     ]!y  James  Miller:  and  The  Use 

and  Abuse  of  Tobacco.    By  John  Lizars, 

$1  00 

Alcohol  :    Its    Nature    and 

Effects.     Uy  Charles  A.  Story,  M.  D., 

90 
Bacchus  Dethroned,     izmo, 

248  pp.     By  Frederick  1'owell,        1  00 


Band  of  Hope  Manual. 

dozen, 


Per 
60 


Bases  of  the    Temperance 

Reform,  The.  izmo,  224  pp.  By  Rev. 
Dawson  Burns,  -  -  -  1  00 

Bound  Volume  of  Tracts. 

No.  i.    500  pp.,        -       -        -        1  OO 

Bound  Volume  of  Tracts. 

No.  2.    384  pp.,  -  1  OO 

Bound  Volume  of  Sermons, 
1  .10 

Bible  Rule  of  Temperance. 

By  Rev.  C,so.  Duffield,  D.D.,      -         HO 

Bible  Wines;  or,  The  Laws 

of  Fermentation  and  Wines  of  the  An- 
cients. I2M10,  139  pp.  By  Rev.  Wm. 
Patton,  U.D.  Paper,  30  cts. ;  cloth. 

60 
Bound  Volume  of  Almanac 

for  1869,  '70,  '71,  '72,  '73,  '74,  '75,  'A 

Centennial         Temperance 

Memorial  Volume.  This  is  a  large  oc- 
tavo volume  of  r,oco  pages,  containing 
thj  full  report  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
International  Temperance  Conference  in 
Philadelphia  in  June,  1876,  and  a  history 
of  the  different  temperance  organizations 
in  this  country  and  Kurope;  also  valu.i- 
able  essays  on  almost  every  phase  of  thf 
question.  Sold  by  subscription.  5  OO 

Catechism  on  Alcohol.    Per 

dozen,      -  ....        (JO 

Communion  Wine;  or,  Bi- 
ble Temperance.  By  Rev.  Wm.  Thay-r 
Paper,  VSO  cts  ;  cloth,  -  -  30 


Cup  of  Death,  The.  A  Con- 
cert Exerc.se.  16  pages.  By  Rev.  W. 
F.  Crafts  6  cts.  each  ;  per  doz.,  $0  60 

Delavan's  Consideration  of 

the  Temperance  Argument  and  History. 

1  50 
Drops  of  Water.     12010,   133 

pp.     By  Miss  Ella  Wheeler,       -          75 

Four  Pillars  of  Tempe- 
rance. By  J.  W.  Kirton,  -  -  75 

Forty    Years'    Fight    with 

the  Drink  Demon.       I2mo,  405  pp.      By 
Chas.  Jewett,  M.D.,         -        -         1  50 

Hints  and  Helps  for  Woman's 

Work.     By  Miss 
,2mo,  72  pp.,     25 


Chr  st.an  Temperance  Work.     By  Miss 
Frances  E.  W.llard.     I2 


Liquor  Laws  of  the  United 

States, 25 

Luiiarius:    A  Visitor  from 

the  Moon, 35 

Medical   Use    of    Alcohol, 

The.  By  James  Edmunds,  M.D  Pa- 
per, 25  cts.  ;  cloth,  -  -  -  60 

National    Temperance  Al- 
manac,         ...  -      10 

On  Alcohol.    By  Benjamin  W. 

Richardson,  M.A  ,  F.R.S.,  of  London, 
with  an  introduction  by  Dr.  Willard 
Parker,  of  New  York  I2mo,  190  pp. 
Paper  covers,  5O  cts.  ;  cloth,  1  00 

Our  Wasted  Resources  ;  or, 

The  Missing  Link   in   the   Temperance 
Reform.     By  Wm.  Hargreaves. 
220  pp. , 

Packet  of  Assorted  Tracts, 

No.  i.  Comprising  Nos.  i  1053  of  our 
list,  making  250  pp.,  -  -  -  25 

Packet  of  Assorted  Tracts, 

No.  2.    Comprising  Nos.  53  to  100,  in.ik- 
.    ing  250  pp., 25 

Packet  of  Assorted  Tracts, 

N  >.  3.  Comprising  Nos.  too  to  150  of 
our  list,  making  240  pages,  -  -  25 

Packet      of     Temperance 

Leaflets,  No.  i.     128  pp.,      -.  10 


I2mo, 

1  25 


The  National  Temperance  Society's  Books. 


Packet      of      Temperance 

Leaflets,  No.  2.    By  T.  S.  Arthur      128 
pp., SO  10 

Packet       of      Prohibition 

Documents,    -        -       -  25 

Packet  of  Crusade  Docu- 
ments,   ....  .      25 

Packet  No.    1  of  Pictorial 

Tracts  tor  Children,      -        -        -        25 

Packet  No.  2  of  Pictorial 

:-,  for  Children,      -        -        -        25 

Prohibition  Does  Prohibit; 

or,  Prohibition  not  a  Failure.     I2tno,  48 
pp.     By  J.  N.  Stearns,          -        -        1O 

Scripture  Testimony  against 

Intoxicating     W.ne.        By    Rev.    Wm. 
Ritchie,  ---  -        -        60 

Temperance     Cyclopaedia. 

By  Rev.  J.  B.  Wakeley.    I2nvj,  244  pp. 


Temperance  Lesson  Leaves. 

No.  i,  2,  3,  each  8  pp.     By  Rev    Ii.  C. 
Babcock.      Per  100,  -      SI  OO 


Temperance 

Per  dozen,       - 


Catechism. 
60 


Temperance    Exercise.     By 

Rev.  Kdmund  Clark,     -         -  10 

Text- Book  of  Temperance. 

By  Dr.  K.  R.  Lees,  -  -        1   5O 

Two  Ways,  The.    A  Concert 

Exercise.     16  pp.     By  George  Thayer.  6 
cts.  each  ;  per  dozen,    -        -        -        60 

Woman's  Temperance  Cru- 
sade, The.  By  Rev.  W.C.  Steele,  with 
an  introduction  by  Dr.  Dio  Lewis.  I2mo. 
83pp., 25 

Zoological        Temperance 

Convention       By  Rev.   Edward   Hitch- 
cock, D.D., 75 


PAMPHLETS. 


Bound  and  How;  or.  Alco- 
hol as  a  Narcotic.  By  Charles  Jewett, 
M.D.  I2mo,  24  pp ,  -  •  •  1O 

Buy    Your  Own   Cherries. 

By  John  YV.  Kirton'.      umo,  32  pp.,    20 

Example    and    Effort.      By 

'.  ->:no,  24  pp.,    -         15 

Father  Mathew.     Address  by 

it  n.     I2mo,  24  pp.,  15 

Illustrated  Temperance  AI- 
.   -      -  -      -      \j-> 

John  S\vig.     A  Poem.     By  Ed- 

;:io,  24pp.  Illustrated 
wi:h  eight  characteristic  engravings, 
prime.!  r,  -  15 

On  Alcohol.    By  Benjamin  W. 

R:ch.<r.l,..:i,    M.\..     M.D.,     l-'.K 

th  an  introduct  on  by  Dr. 
W.'hrd  Rirk.T,  of  New  York.  I2:no 
190  pages.  Cl  ith,  $i ;  paper  covers,  50 


Prohibition  Does  Prohibit ; 

or,  Prohibit-on  Not  a  Failure.  By  J.  N. 
Stearr.s.  i2ino,  48  pp.,  -  -  10 

Proceedings     of     National 

Temperance  Conventions  held  in  Sara- 
toga :n  1865,  Cleveland  in  1868,  Saratoga 
in  1873,  Chicago  in  1875;  each,  -  25 

Rum      Fiend,      The,      and 

Other  Poems.  By  William  H.  Burleigh. 
I2mo,  46  pp.  Illustrated  with  three 
wood  engravings,  designed  by  Edward 
Carswell,  2O 

Scriptural  Claims  of  Total 

Abstinence.  By  Rev.  Newman  Hall. 
I2mo,  62  pp.,  -  -  -  -  15 

Suppression  of  the  Liquor 

Tralti^.      A  Prize  Essay,  by  Rev.   H.  I). 

il,    President  of  the   Middlebury 

College,     izmo,  48  pp.,          -        -        10 

Temperance    and    Educa- 

.     iSmo,  34  pp.     By  Mark  Hopkins, 
!).!  i.,  1'resident  of  Williams  College, 

1O 


The  National  Temperance  Society's  Books. 


MUSIC  AND  SONG  BOOKS. 


Baud    of    Hope    Melodies. 

Paper,      -  SO  1O 

Bugle  Notes  for  the  Tempe- 
rance Army.  Ed, ted  by  \V.  K.  Sheru  in 
and  J.  N.  Stearns.  Price,  paper,  30 
cis.  ;  boards,  -  35 

Board  covers,  per  doz.,     -  4  OO 

Papar  covers,  per  doz.,     -        -        3  4O 

Campaign          Temperance 

Hymns,  for  Temperance  Singers  every- 
where. 30  hymns,  24  pp.    Per  100,  3  00 

Our  Songs.    8  pages.    Contain- 

m«f  '7  hymns  suitable   for  public  meet- 
ing.    IV-r  too,  -  -         1  DO 


Ripples  of  Song.  Price  locts., 

paper  covers;  per  100,  &12.  Board 
covers,  20  c:s.  ;  per  100,  -  §18  00 

Temperance  Hymns  in  sheet 

form,  size  9,I/2X7%  inches,  containing 
hymns  suitable  for  Public  Temperance 
Gatherings  and  Organizations.  Price, 
on  thick  paper,  $2  per  hundred  ;  on  card 
board,  $5  per  hundred. 

Temperance  Chimes.    Price, 

in  paper,  3O  cts. ;  board  covers,  35 
Board  covers,  per  doz.,  4  00 

Paper  covers,  per  doz.,     -        -        3  40 

Temperance    Hymn-Book. 

Price,  paper  covers,  12  cts.  each  ;  $10 
per  ico.  Board  covers,  15  cts.  each  ; 
per  loo,  -  -  -  13  OO 


TWENTY-FOUR  PAGE  PAMPHLETS. 

Five  Cents  each  ;  Sixty  Cents  per  Dozen. 


Is  Alcohol  Food? 

R.  Lees. 


Adulteration 

By  Rev.  J.  B. 


By  Dr.  F. 
of    Liquors. 


A   High  Fence  of  Fifteen 


Bar 


By  the  author  of  "  Luna 


Bible  Teetotalism.     By  Rev. 

Peter  S'.ryktr. 

Dramshops,  Industry,  and 

Taxes.     By  A.  Kurwell. 

Drinking  Usages  of  Society. 

By  Bishop  Alonzo  Potter. 

Duty  of  the  Church  toward 

the     Present     Temperance     Movement, 
The.     By  Rev.  Isaac  j.  Lansing. 

Fruits  of  the  Liquor  Traf- 

f.j.     By  Sumner  Stebbins,  M.D. 

Gentle  Woman  Roused.    By 

Rev.  E.  P.  Roe. 


History  and  Mystery  of  a 

Glass  of  Ale.     By  J.  \V.  Kirton. 

Is  Alcohol  a   Necessary  of 

Life?     By  Prof.  Henry  Munroe. 

Liquor    Traffic,    The— The 

By  Rev.  E. 

Drinking.       By 


Fallacies  of  its  Defenders. 
G.  Read. 


Medicinal 

Rev.  John  Kirk. 

Physiological    Action     of 

Alcohol.     By  Prof.  Henry  Munroe. 

Son  of  My  Friend,  The.    By 

T.  S.  Arthur. 

Stimulants  for  Women.     By 

Dr.  James  Edmunds,  M.D. 

Throne    of  Iniquity,   The. 

By  Rev.  A.  Barnes. 

Will  the  Coming  Man  Drink 

Wine?     By  James  Parton,  Ksq. 

Woman's  Crusade,  The— A 

Novel  Temperance  Movement.     By  Dr. 
D    H.  Mann. 


The  National  Temperance  Society's  Books. 


TEMPERANCE  SERMONS. 

Fifteen  Cents  Ench. 

The  National  Temperance  Society  have  published  a  series  of  Sermons  in  pamphlet 
form  upon  various  phases  of  the  temperance  question,  by  some  of  the  leading  clergy- 
men in  America.  Bound  in  one  volume  in  cloth,  $i  50. 


1.  Common  Sense  for  Young 

.     ;y  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher. 

2.  Moral  Duty  of  Total  Ab- 

bLnence.    By  Rev.  T.  L.  Cuyler. 

3.  The  Evil  Beast.     By  Rev. 

T.  l)c  Witt  Talmage. 

4.  The  Good  Samaritan.  By 

RL-V.  J .  !!.  Dunn. 

5.  Self-Denial :  a  Duty  and 

a  Pleas,:  r-.-.      liy    Rev.  J.    1>.  New- 

G.  The  Church  and  Tempe- 
rance.    Hy  John  W.  Mears,  D.I), 
tiamil 


iilton College,  New 


7.  Active  Pity  of  a  Queen. 

:  ILdl,  D.I). 

8.  Temperance      and       the 

Pulpu.     H>   Rev.  C.  D.  Foss,  D.D. 

9.  The    Evil    of    Intempe- 

r  nice,     liy  Rev.  J .  Romeyn  Berry. 


10.  Liberty  and  Love.     By 

Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher. 

11.  The     Wine      and     the 

Word.    By  Rev.  Herrick  Johnson. 

12.  Strange    Children.      By 

Rev.  Peter  Stryker. 

13.  The  Impeachment  and 

Punishment  of  Alcohol.    By  Rev. 
C.  H.  Fowler. 

14.  Drinking  for  Health.  By 

Rev.  H.  C.  Kish. 

15.  Scientific       Certainties 

(not  Opinions)  about  Alcohol.     By 
Rev.  H.  W.  Warren. 

16.  My  Name  is  Legion.    By 

Rev.  Stepiien  H.  Tyng,  D.D. 

17.  The    Christian  Serving 

his  r.eneration.     liy  Rev.  Wrn.  M. 
Taylor,  A.M. 


TEMPERANCE  TRACTS. 

The  National  Temperance  Society  publish  a  series  of  tracts,  among  which  are  190 
I2mo  tracts,  from  one  to  twelve  pages  each,  72  i8mo  Illustrated  Children's  Tracts, 
all  of  which  are  put  up  in  neat  packets.  Price  25  cents  each. 

Sixteen  Temperance  Leaflets,  envelope  size,  in  packets,  10  cents  each. 


LITHOGRAPHS  AND  POSTERS. 

The  Second  Declaration  of    An     Honest      Rumseller's 

Independence.     Size  12x19  Advertisement.     Per  100,  1  OO 

?    The       Total       Abstainer's 

Five  Steps  in  Drinking,      15         Daily  Witness  and  BiWe  Verdict,       7.1 


The  National  Temperance  Society's  Books. 


BAND  OF  HOPE  SUPPLIES. 


Band  of  Hope  Manual.    Per 

dozen,  -        -        -        $0  60 

Temperance        Catechism. 

Per  dozen,      •  60 

Band    of   Hope    Melodies. 

Paper, 10 

Band  of  Hope  Badge.    En- 

amelled,  $i  25  per  dozen  ;  12  cts.  singly. 
Plain.  $i  per  dozen;  10  cts.  singly.  Silver 
and  Enamelled,  each,  -  5O 

National  Temperance  Ora- 
tor, -  1  OO 

Ripples  of  Song.  Paper  cov- 
ers, 15  cts. ;  per  100,  $12.  Board  covers, 
20  cts. ;  per  100,  -  -  -  18  00 

Juvenile     Temperance 

Speaker, 25 

Illuminated    Pledge    Card. 

Per  hundred,  2  OO 


Temperance  Medal.    10  cts. 

each;  per  dozen.     -  $1  00 

Temperance  Exercise.      10 
Illuminated      Temperance 

Cards.     Set  of  ten,        -        -  35 

Juvenile        Temperance 

Pledges.     Per  hundred,  -        -        3  00 

Certificates  of  Membership. 

Per  hundred,    -  -        -        3  00 

Band  of   Hope  Certificate 

and   Pledge  Combined  (in  colors).     Per 
hundred,     -  4  00 

Temperance     Lesson 

Leaves.     Nos.    i,  2,   3,  each  8  pp.     Per 
ioo,     -  1  00 

The  Temperance   Speaker. 

75 

Catechism  on  Alcohol.     By 

Miss  Julia  Colman.     Per  dcz.,  60 


TEMPERANCE  PLEDGES. 


1.  Sunday  -  school    Pledee, 

20x28  inches,  in  colors,  each,  80^25 

2.  National    Pledge,    20x28 

inches,  in  colors,  each,         -         25 

3.  Family      Pledge,      20x14 

inches,  each,  -  -        30 

4.  Family  Pledge,  13^x10^ 

inches,  per  ioo,  -        2  OO 

5.  National  Pledges,  for  cir- 

culation at  public  meetings,  per  ioo, 

50 

G.  Children's        Illustrated 

Pledge,  9%  x6  inches,  per  100, 

7.  Children's        Illustrated 

Pledge,  not  including  tobacco,  and 
Certificate  combined,  12x0% 
inches,  in  colors,  per  ioo,  4  00 

8.  Children's       Illustrated 

Certificate  of  Membership,  9^x6 
inches,  per  ioo,  -  -  3  OO 


9.  Children's  Band  o/Hope 

Pledge,  which  includes  tobacco  and 


profanity,  and  Certificate  com- 
bined, 12x0%  inches,  in  colors,  per 
ioo,  -  -  $400 


10.  Pocket     Pledge-Book, 

\vithspacefor8onames,     -         1O 

11.  Sunday-school  Pledge- 

Book,  space  for  1,000  names, 

1  50 

12.  National      Temperance 

Pledge-Book,      space      for      1,000 
names,      ...        -         1  50 

13.  Temperance        Pledge- 

Card,  3%xq  inches,  in  colors,  per 
ioo,  ......    1  OO 

14.  Illuminated        Pledge- 

Card,  per  ioo,  -  -  2  00 
Druggists',  Property-Holders',  Gro- 
cers', Dealers',  Physicians',  and  Citi- 
zens' Pledges,  per  ioo,  -  -  V5 


The  National  Temperance  Society's  Books. 

TEMPERANCE  DIALOGUES. 

Trial  and  Condemnation  of   Which  Will  You    Choose? 

Judas     Woemaker.        15     ,  Bv    Miss  M     1).   Chellis.     15 

dozen,, 81  50         cents.     Per  dozen,    -        -        -    SI  50 


The    First    Glass;    or,    The 

Power  of  Woman's  Influence;  and 

The  Young  Teetotaler;  or, 


Wine   as   a    Medicine.     10 

Per  dozen,    -  -        1  00 

The  Stumbling  Block.      10 


Saved  at    Last.     15  cents  for  both.     Per  i      cents.     Per  dozen,    -        -        -        1  00 

1  50    Aunt  Dinah's  Pledge.    Dra- 
Reclaimed;    or,    The    Danger       man  zed  from  the  Book,  15 

of  Moderate   Drinking      10  cents      I    r     -phe      Temperance     Doctor. 

'cn-  °°  ,      Dramatized  from  the  Book,         -        15 

Marry      No     Man      if     He    Shall  I  Marry  a   Moderate 

Drinks.     10  cents.     Per  dozen,       1  OO  i      Drinker?     10  cents.     Per  dozen,   1  OO 


THE  YOUTH'S  TEMPERANCE  BANNER. 

The  National  Temperance  Society  and  Publication  House  publish  a  beautifully-illus- 
trated four-page  monthly  paper  for  children  and  youths,  Sabbath-schools,  and  juvenile 
temperance  organizations.  Each  number  contains  several  choice  engravings,  a  piece  of 
music,  and  a  great  variety  of  articles  from  the  pens  of  the  best  writers  for  children  in 
America. 

Its  object  is  to  make  the  temperance  work  and  education  a  part  of  the  religious  cul- 
ture and  training  of  the  Sabbath-school  and  family  circle,  that  the  children  may  be  early 
taught  to  shun  the  intoxicating  cup,  and  walk  in  the  path  of  truth,  soberness,  and 
righteousness. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  writers  for  THE  BANNER  :  Mrs.  J.  P.  Ballard  (Kruna), 
Miss  M.  I)  Chellis,  Mrs.  Nellie  H.  Bradley,  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Thayer,  Edward  Carswell, 
Geo  \V.  Hun-jay,  J  H.  Kellogg,  Mrs.  J.  E.  McConaughy,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Dennison,  Mrs. 
E.  J.  Richmond,  Rev.  S.  B.  S.  Bissell,  Rev.  Alfred  Taylor,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Kidder,  etc., 
etc. 

THE  BANNER  has  already  been  welcomed  into  thousands  of  Sabbath-schools  of  all  de- 
nominations as  the  only  youth's  temperance  paper  published  for  Sabbath-schools. 

Terms,  cash  in  advance,  including  postage  : 

Single  copy,  one  year,      -  -  SO  35  Thirty  copies,  to  one  address,  84  O5 

Eight  copies,  to  one  address,  -  1   OS  Forty        "             "           "      -  5  4O 

Ten          "  1   35  Fifty         "  "           "      -  6  75 

Fifteen    "  -  U  03  One    hundred  copies,   to   one 

Twenty  "  -  £  7O  address,                                    -  13  OO 

We  trust  the  friends  of  temperance  and  Sunday-schools  will  make  the  effort  to  intro- 
duce THE  BANNER  into  every  Sunday-school  in  their  midst,  as  the  price  at  which  it  is 
published— which  does  not  cover  the  cost  of  paper  and  printing— prevents  the  sending 
of  agents  to  introduce  it. 


The  National  Temperance  Society's  Books. 
THE  NATIONAL  TEMPERANCE  ADVOCATE. 

The  National  Temperance  Society  and  Publication  House  publish  a  monthly  paper 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  temperance  reform,  which  contains  articles  upon  every 
phase  of  the  movement  from  the  pens  of  some  of  the  ablest  writers  in  America,  among 
whom  are:  Rev.  T.  L.  Cuyler,  D.D  ,  Dr.  Charles  Jewett,  Rev.  \Vm.  Goodell,  A.  M- 
Powell,  Rev  Peter  Stryker,  Rev.  J.  B.  Dunn,  Rev.  Wm  M.  Thayer,  Rev  VVm.  Pat- 
ton,  D  D.,  Geo.  W.  Bungay,  Mrs.  F.  M.  Bradley,  Miss  M.  D.  Chellis,  Kruna,  etc., 
etc. 

It  also  contains  a  history  of  the  progress  of  the  movement  from  month  to  month  in 
all  of  the  States,  which  is  of  great  value  to  every  worker  in  the  cause  and  to  those  who 
are  in  any  way  interested  in  the  work,  and  no  pains  will  be  spared  to  make  this  full  of 
the  most  valuable  information  to  all  classes  in  the  community. 

Terms  (cash  in  advance),  including  postage :  One  dollar  and  ten  cents  per  year  for 
single  copies;  ten  copies  to  one  address,  $10;  twenty  copies  to  one  address,  $18;  all 
over  twenty  copies  at  90  cents  per  copy. 


SEWALL'S  STOMACH  PLATES. 

The  National  Temperance  Society  and  Publication  House  have  republished  the  cele- 
brated lithographic  drawings  of  the  human  stomach,  showing  the  effects  of  intoxicating 
liquors,  from  the  first  inception  of  disease  occasioned  thereby,  to  death  by  delirium 
tremens.  We  have  had  repeated  applications  for  them  during  the  past  few  years,  and 
have  now-reproduced  them  in  the  original  form.  The  drawings  are  eight  in  number. 
Size,  27  x  34  inches. 

These  drawings  are  not  the  production  of  mere  fancy,  but  are  the  result  of  actual 
scientific  research  and  investigation,  in  one  living  case  (that  of  Alexis  St.  Martin,  in 
the  year  1822),  and  of  others  immediately  after  death.  They  are  invaluable  to  every 
student,  scientific  and  medical  man,  and  especially  to  those  who  are  lecturing  upon 
physiology  or  temperance.  They  should  be  in  the  possession  of  even'  college,  school, 
temperance  society,  and  reading-room  in  the  land.  Price,  $12  per  set,  plain  paper;  $15, 
mounted  and  on  rollers. 

All  orders  should  be  addressed  to 

J.  N.  STEARNS,  Publishing  Agent, 

58  Reade  Street,  New  York. 


000  031  920    2 


:''V<^':. '•'  ':'%..  :; 


